Manchester City Squeeze Into UEFA Champions League Knockouts, To Face Real Madrid Or Bayern Munich
NDTV
After losing 0-1 at half-time, Manchester City came back to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and enter the Champions League knockout stage.
Pep Guardiola said he cannot see Manchester City winning the Champions League on current form, but believes his side will be better when they face the might of either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich next month. City needed a second-half fightback from 1-0 down to beat Club Brugge 3-1 on Wednesday to avoid crashing out before the knockout stages for the first time since 2012. Their reward could be just a stay of execution against either the defending champions or Guardiola's former club Bayern.
City have also been a diminished force in the Premier League this season, where they sit fourth -- 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.
But Guardiola is hopeful they will be strengthened by the return of key players from injury and new signings Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in the coming weeks.
"Right now no. I'm so realistic," said Guardiola when asked if the 2023 champions could win the competition again.
"Madrid is back in terms of results, Bayern played an incredible season so far with (coach) Vinny (Kompany). If we have to play tomorrow it will be difficult but in two weeks we don't know.
