Pep Guardiola said he sees Manchester City's make-or-break Uefa Champions League clash with Club Brugge on Wednesday as a “an opportunity” rather than a problem.
The Spaniard has endured the most turbulent season of his managerial career so far with his team having struggled for form domestically and in Europe.
During a disastrous run at the end of 2024, City registered just one win in 13 matches across competitions, which saw his team drop off the pace in both the Premier and Champions Leagues.
An unbeaten six-match run has seen City haul themselves back into the English top-flight's top four, although they remain 12 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
In the Champions League, City's situation is a desperate one. Last week saw them take a 2-0 lead at Paris Saint-Germain, only to collapse in spectacular fashion on their way to a 4-2 defeat – a scoreline that flattered Guardiola's side.
The loss leaves City's qualification hopes on a knife edge and facing a simple truth ahead of the midweek game at the Etihad Stadium: win and they reach the play-off stage, keeping their hopes alive of reaching the last-16. Anything less, and the 2023 European champions are out.
“The situation we have, we have to win the game and if not then we won't continue in competition and we want to go through to have another chance to play another two games and qualify for the next stage,” said Guardiola in Tuesday's press conference.
“It's not a problem it's an opportunity, a challenge and we will face it.
“I have been in the Champions League many times in my career as a manager. Sooner or later you have to play these types of games – win and we're through; lose and we're out.
“It happens more in the further stages, not right now but we are here for the reasons we know. We have not been good enough and I've been in lots of games like this in my career.”
Opponents Brugge currently sit second in the Belgian top flight and 20th in the Champions League, three points and five places above City with teams finishing between ninth and 24th reaching the play-offs.
Thanks to their superior goal difference, City will move above Nicky Hayen's side and into the play-off spots with a victory.
But Guardiola knows a team that has beaten Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon, as well drawing with Juventus in this season's competition cannot be underestimated.
The Catalonian also made it clear how important the home fans will be on Wednesday night.
“If we perform well and we're in a good rhythm they [the fans] will be there,” said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.
“We have felt them more than ever this season, like at Chelsea at the weekend [when City won 3-1] they helped us.
“We will need them because they [Club Brugge] haven't lost a game in 20 games, they are consistent, solid, they are aggressive and don't concede chances.
“We played against them years ago and they've made a step up in how aggressive they are and they play really well with the ball. We have to perform really well to win the game.”
While Guardiola said that he is not thinking about the financial implications of City going out of the competition – “I didn't speak with the CEO [Ferran Soriano] about that” – there is no doubt that it would be a huge blow for the club.
When asked whether he enjoys playing in such high-pressure games, defender Josko Gvardiol laughed: “I'm going to enjoy if I win! We want to qualify for the next stage and our confidence is good, especially after our last home game [against Chelsea].
“We're going to have huge support from our fans so we're going to be ready tomorrow.
“I can tell you they are a good team. It's not going to be easy. I faced them three years ago with RB Leipzig and they were really good.
“They play with the wide wingers to let them play one v one so it is going to be a good game, we need the points, we need to win and we are going to do everything to win the game.”
In a boost for City, midfielder Oscar Bobb is in contention to play for the first time since August but January arrivals Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov are all ineligible.
