Pep Guardiola has claimed that both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are “better than” his Manchester City side in the wake of their progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City had to come back from behind to defeat Club Brugge and keep themselves alive in the UEFA Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
After Raphael Onyedika’s opener just before halftime, the hosts would equalise through Mateo Kovačić before an own goal from defender Joel Ordóñez gave them the lead. Halftime substitute Savinho was a big contributor in the side’s change of tune, and his goal to extend the lead to two goals wrapped up the win and qualification.
But that came at a price; having finished 22nd in the league phase, City will have to face one of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the knockout play-off round. While Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Savinho’s impact, he was far less optimistic when it came to City’s chances about going deep in the tournament.
After Manchester City’s abject first half display, Guardiola said that the introduction of Savinho “changed the game.”
“We missed the spark. I think Savinho helped us like all the season when he plays there [on the left wing]. He was unbelievable, so he changed the game. After five minutes, he created two or three corners, our crowd reacted, and we had the chances.”
When it comes to the City’s future in the competition, however, Guardiola wasn’t full of confidence, with a February clash against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich on the horizon.
“I don’t know if they are happy to play against us, but it is what it is. It’s Madrid or Bayern, we’re going to face them. One is the king of the competition, the other is maybe the second or third king of the competition.”
“They are better than us, both of them right now, but I don’t know what’s going to happen in two weeks.”
With regards to his side’s chances of winning the Champions League as a whole this season, he was even more blunt.
Embed from Getty Images“Right now, no. But the year that we won, I always thought that we were going to win the Champions League.
“I’m so pragmatic. The reality is the reality, they have more experience than us, and [Real] Madrid maybe struggled, but in the last games, they’re back in the results and in the way they play, and Bayern Munich are having an incredible season so far.”
“If we had to play tomorrow, it would be difficult. But in two weeks, I don’t know.”
Manchester City will learn their opponent for the Champions League knockout play-off round when the draw kicks off at 11:00 GMT on January 31st, and the first leg against their giant foe will be played on either February 11th or 12th.