Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said that he is aware of the financial implications of not reaching the Champions League-Knock outfites prior to Wednesday's Must-win match against Club Brugge.
City is 25th, outside the play-off spots, prior to their last competition phase match in the Etihad Stadium.
Only the top eight teams qualify directly for the last 16 below the new format, while clubs that end ninth to 24 will continue the play-offs.
The Premier League champions have reached the Champions League Knock outphages every season since Guardiola took the lead in 2016 and the Spaniard knows that missing their company could influence the transfer market.
“It has always been positive in the last two or three transfer toys. I am not naive enough not to know how important it is financially for the club to continue in this competition,” Guardiola said.
“It can affect the club, but of course we want to try to let it happen and for sporting reasons to continue first.
“In the past five or six years, the net spending at this club was great. The club said,” Okay, the situation is the situation. If we want to spend, we can spend. If not, we will not spend. ” “
City has already spent more than £ 120 million on forward Omar Marmoush and Defenders Vior Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov this transfer window.
A large #Cl evening on the Etihad pic.twitter.com/67nkilyunt
– Manchester City (@Mancity) January 27, 2025
The side of Guardiola was beaten 4-2 by Paris Saint-Germain in their last Champions League outing, so they only had two wins and two peers from seven games.
City was confronted with 26 shots from PSG, with an average of only 8.3 shots per game in their previous six games in the tournament this season.
“We have to win the game and if not, we will not continue in the competition. We want to continue to have another chance to play two more games and to be eligible for the next phase,” said the city manager.
“I appreciate your concern not to be eligible, but I think we will do it.”
Asked if it would be embarrassing for his side not to be eligible for the play-offs, Guardiola said: “Ask me after the game.”
City defeated Bruges 5-1 and 4-1 in the 2021-22 campaign, but Guardiola said that the Belgian side differs enormously from the team that they played three seasons ago.
Bruges has not lost a match in all matches since the end of October and his 20th in the rankings, three points above the city. They have two wins and two draws in their last four games in the tournament.
“We want to score a lot of goals in the first 20 minutes, but I don't think that will happen,” said Guardiola.
“I expect a difficult game. If a team is unbeaten, it is because they are good, there is no secret there. They did very well.
“It's a final for both of us, especially for us.”
City has been undefeated in their last 33 Champions League matches at home (W28 D5), although three of their last four have ended in parable.
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