UCL 2024-25: Pep Guardiola accepts PSG was better after Manchester City’s collapse

UCL 2024-25: Pep Guardiola accepts PSG was better after Manchester City’s collapse

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola appeared resigned to the fact that his side was resoundingly outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-2 loss that leaves its Champions League knockout hopes in doubt – a prospect that would have seemed unthinkable in recent campaigns.

Guardiola’s men squandered a two-goal lead on Wednesday as PSG struck four times in the second half. The result dropped City to 25th in the standings, one spot outside the playoff qualifying positions.

It now needs to win when it hosts Club Brugge in a nerve-jangling finale of the league phase on January 29.

“We had our moments and they had their moments, but they were better,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.

“They were quicker, faster, they won the duels, we could not cope. They were fast. The best team won. The game was never like we wanted. To play you have to play. To defend the result you have to keep the ball — we didn’t have it. They had it more, they attacked better, that’s why it was more difficult,” he added.

The loss was reminiscent of City’s shocking collapse against Feyenoord in November when it surrendered a three-goal lead late in the game to draw 3-3.

When asked about the possibility of City — Champions League victors in 2023 — not going through, Guardiola said: “It could happen. We will see. If we don’t win (v Brugge) we don’t deserve it. All the away games we have are difficult, but it’s the reality. We didn’t get enough points.”

Former Manchester United defender turned pundit Rio Ferdinand said it would be an embarrassment for the Premier League titan to fail to advance.

Guardiola, who spent much of the match wildly waving his arms in frustration, said the game was lost in the midfield, where his squad is sorely missing Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to a season-ending knee injury.

“In football, everything happens in the middle,” he said. “We have a last chance at home, we’ll do everything there.”

A thrilled PSG manager Luis Enrique, Guardiola’s good friend and former teammate at Barcelona, said the result was a huge boost to his team.

“Take the ball to one of the best teams in the world was our objective and we achieved it,” he told reporters.

“That was our idea, to be dangerous, to attack the spaces when they opened up and I think we got what we wanted. If we can do that at Manchester City, we can do it against a lot of teams,” he added.