PARIS, France (AFP) – Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola sought to take some of the pressure off his side coming into Wednesday’s crunch Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), playing down the possible impact of a defeat in the French capital.
The Premier League champions are 22nd in the 36-team standings with eight points from six games, having picked up just a single point from their last three outings.
The top 24 teams will progress to the knockout phase, and PSG lie 25th, a point behind their opponents on Wednesday — there is therefore a real possibility that one of these two behemoths will be knocked out.
However, Guardiola calmly pointed out that a win in their final fixture next week at home to Club Brugge may suffice to progress regardless of the outcome in Paris.
“Of course, it is a really important game for us and PSG but we have another game against Bruges at home,” Guardiola said during a press conference at the Parc des Princes.
“I know winning the two games mathematically we will be there but maybe with just one victory too.”
City, winners of the Champions League in 2023, endured a wretched run of form at the end of the old year, managing a single victory in 13 matches in all competitions.
However, they have since recorded four wins in five, including a 6-0 demolition of Ipswich Town on Sunday.
“The results have been good, and the last performance was good. In the other games, we had the results but the performances were not our best,” added Guardiola, whose team faces a fearsome run of fixtures over the next six weeks.
“Where we have come from the results are really important but now comes the toughest time of the season in terms of opponents. The challenge is there so we can go for it.”
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Wednesday’s game will see Guardiola pit his wits against Luis Enrique, the PSG coach with whom he played at Barcelona and who is one of his closest friends.
“I like everything about Luis and about the way they play,” Guardiola said of his compatriot, whose PSG side are on top of Ligue 1 but have struggled for form in Europe.
“We were mates in Barcelona and our families are really close friends. We have an incredible connection in many things.
“I want a horrible performance from PSG tomorrow so maybe we can beat them, but afterward the relationship will always be there.”
