Pep Guardiola knows missing the Champions League knockout stage could hurt Man City. They must beat Club Brugge to stay in the competition.
Manchester City must win against Club Brugge on Wednesday to stay in the Champions League.
Since Pep Guardiola became coach in 2016, City has always made it to the knockout rounds, but this year, they are in danger. City is 25th in the standings, which is not good enough to move forward.
Why This Game Is Important
- Top 8 teams go straight to the next round.
- Teams ranked 9th to 24th play in a knockout round to qualify.
- City is outside both spots and must win to have a chance.
If they don’t qualify, Guardiola said it could hurt the club’s spending on new players.
“I know qualifying is important for the club’s money,” Guardiola said. “But we also want to go through for football reasons.”
Also Read: Neymar Leaves Al-Hilal After Short Stay

City Has Spent Big Already
This month, City spent over £120 million ($149 million) on new players:
- Omar Marmoush (Forward)
- Vitor Reis (Defender)
- Abdukodir Khusanov (Defender)
Also Read: Radja Nainggolan Arrested in Cocaine Trafficking Investigation
Guardiola Stays Positive
City won the Champions League in 2023, but Guardiola refused to say if not qualifying this time would be embarrassing.
“We must win, or we are out,” he said. “We want to keep playing and reach the next round.”
Brugge Will Be a Tough Opponent
City easily beat Brugge in 2021-22 (5-1 and 4-1), but Guardiola says they are much better now.
- Brugge is unbeaten since October.
- They are 20th in the standings, three points ahead of City.
“We want to score early, but that won’t be easy,” Guardiola said. “They are a strong team. This game is like a final for us.”
City must win to stay in the Champions League.
Also Read: Pep Guardiola Talks About City’s Champions League Worries Before Crucial Match
Bookmark us and visit again for more Soccer News