Champions League: Man City manager Pep Guardiola on 'opportunity' against Club Brugge
2025-01-28
Category: sports

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has described his side's Champions League situation as "not a problem" but  "an opportunity" as they look to avoid exiting the competition at the group stage.The 2022-23 champions are 25th in the 36-team league, two points out of the positions that qualify for the knockout phase play-offs.They must beat Belgians Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to avoid being eliminated at the group stage."The situation that we have is that we have to win the game and if not we will not continue in this competition," Guardiola said."We want to have another chance to play another two games, to have the chance of the next stages. It's not a problem, it's an opportunity."Manchester City have received an injury boost before the game with Guardiola confirming Oscar Bobb will be available for selection.The midfielder has spent five months on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his leg last summer.City reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last term and Guardiola, who has won the Champions League three times as a manager, is treating the game like a knockout fixture.He added: "These type of games I've played many times. Sooner or later you have to play them where if you win you go through and if you don't you go out. "We are here for the reasons we know, that we have not been good enough, and this is a situation we have lived many times."
What's the situation for Man City?
Manchester City are one of 25 teams out of the 36 in the league still waiting to learn their fate.The 4-2 defeat by Paris St-Germain in their previous match was costly because it leaves Guardiola's side in the elimination zone.If City fail to beat Club Brugge, they would not drop into the Europa League. It would be the end of European football for them this season.
How much prize money would Man City miss out on?
Failing to qualify for the next round means taking a hefty financial hit.Every club in the league phase gets 18.62m euros (Â£15.6m) for participating, with performance bonuses of 2.1m euros per win and 700,000 euros per draw.Reaching the play-offs is worth an additional 1m euros but getting past that is when things start to get lucrative.Reaching the last 16 banks a club 11m euros, the quarter-finals is worth an extra 12.5m euros and clubs getting to the semi-finals receive 15m euros.Getting to the final is worth a guaranteed 18.5m euros, with the champions pocketing 25m euros.That means if Manchester City fail to get out of the group stage then they would miss out on a potential 64.5m euros (Â£54.1m).The knock-on effect could impact what business Guardiola can do in the transfer market, although he would not be drawn on that situation on Tuesday."I didn't speak with my chief executive about that," he said."I would say the budget is positive. I'm not naive enough to know how important this competition is financially for the club but we want to try and go though for sporting reasons."
Longer term it would leave Manchester City with the FA Cup and finishing in the top four or five of the Premier League to secure Champions League football next season.The loss of income from failing to reach the knockout stage could have an impact on flexibility within the profit and sustainability rules, which would be compounded even more should they fail to secure Champions League football in 2025-26.
Have Man City failed to get out of their group before?
It has happened twice - in 2011-12 and 2012-13.On the first occasion they were drawn in a group containing Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal but even though they managed three wins, it was not enough to finish in the top two.The following season they finished bottom of their group, failing to win any of their six games, losing to Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax.Since then they have always got through to the knockout stage, reaching the final twice and, of course, winning it in 2023.
Which other big teams have fallen at first hurdle?
Barcelona are five-times winners of the Champions League but went out in the group stage as recently as 2021-22 and 2022-23.Meanwhile, Manchester United went out in 2011-12 season at the group stage having reached the semi-final the season before. Chelsea did likewise in 2012-13.
How likely are Club Brugge to cause an upset?
Opta have given Manchester City a 63.8% chance of beating Club Brugge and making the play-off round.However, the chances of reaching the last 16 falls to 41.1%.Club Brugge have won three of their Champions League games so far this season, including a home win against Aston Villa.They also held Juventus to a goalless draw in their last European outing but their only away win in the competition was at Sturm Graz on 2 October.The Belgians are, however, in good form having not lost a game in any competition since 22 October.They are managed by Nicky Hayen, who just three years ago had a spell as manager of Welsh semi-professional side Haverfordwest County.