Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City team to deliver “something special” to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
The reigning 2023 champions have struggled in the league phase of the competition, managing only two wins from their first seven matches, which has left them outside the top 24. Now, City must secure a crucial victory against Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to avoid an early exit.
Speaking ahead of the must-win fixture, Guardiola emphasized the high stakes but framed the situation as a challenge rather than a setback. “The situation is clear: we have to win the game. If not, we are out of the competition,” said the City boss. “But this isn’t a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge, and we will rise to it.”
Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of the task, urging his players to stay composed. “Of course, we’d love to score several goals in the first 20 minutes, but I don’t think that’s likely. The key is to approach the game calmly, with no unnecessary emotions, and focus on understanding what the match requires.”
He also called for his team to elevate their performances, pointing out that their Champions League campaign so far has lacked the spark needed to secure consistent wins. “In games like this, you need something special. We haven’t shown enough of that so far in this competition, but it’s what will be required to win.”
City will now look to draw on their quality and experience to stay in contention and reignite their European campaign.
