Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City being eliminated from the Champions League is now a “reality” following the 4-2 defeat to Paris-Saint Germain away from home.
City dropped to 25th in the standings, which sees them fall out of the knockout places across the new format, after squandering a two-goal lead at the Parc des Princes.
Goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland lifted Guardiola’s team into 18th but it was short-lived, as PSG netted three times in 22-minutes in a 4-2 win that left City two points adrift of 24th-placed Stuttgart heading into their “last chance” fixture against Club Brugge on January 29.
“We have the last chance at home to Brugge and hopefully we can qualify,” Guardiola said after the game.
“It could happen, if we don’t win we don’t deserve it. It’s always a difficult tie, this is the reality, we haven’t got enough points and we have to accept it. We have to do what we have to do.
“We could not cope. When one team is better I have no problem accepting it. Now we prepare for Chelsea and the final [game] against Club Brugge. We need to beat them.
“This is what we have to do, survive and try to move forward. I know the players are trying and they have doubts but when a team is better you have to accept it.”
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Danny Mills reacts as PSG pull two goals back against Manchester City after trailing at half-time
Guardiola: The table is fair
When asked if seeing his team sat in 25th of the Champions League standings was a fair reflection of their showings in Europe, Guardiola added: “Is the table fair? Of course it is.
“What’s the argument to say it isn’t fair? Still we are in this position, we struggled against the top teams. We have to accept it and recover.”
Grealish: We are losing too many leads
Man City forward Jack Grealish speaking to TNT Sport:
“Usually in these moments we are so good. It has happened too many times this season – going one, two or three goals up and not being able to see it out.
“In every other season we have been so good managing the games.
PSG’s Bradley Barcola celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal against Manchester City
“I don’t know if it is a confidence issue. It is down to ourselves to change that moving forward and to win that game next week [vs Club Brugge].
“We have had games like this in recent seasons. Big pressure games and we are going to need that. It is down to us and we are really good at home.”
Enrique: Football is sometimes unfair
Despite moving up into 22nd following the stunning comeback win, PSG are still not guaranteed a place in the knockout play-offs with their boss Luis Enrique well aware of the challenge ahead.
“Football is sometimes unfair, sometimes unbelievable,” he said after the game. “When we scored it was like a new energy for everybody. We need to win our last match against Stuttgart.
“We are one of the best young teams in the Champions League and for the confidence it’s amazing. That showed everyone they are ready to work and suffer like a team, even against a team like Manchester City.”
