Pep Guardiola has called for “something special” on his part of Manchester City to save their Champions League campaign.
City, the 2023 winners, went outside the top 24 in the competition phase after winning only two of their first seven games and now has to beat Club Brugge in the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to stay in the competition.
“The situation we have is that we have to win the game and if not, we will not continue in this competition,” said city manager Guardiola. “But it's no problem, it's an opportunity, a challenge and we'll face it.
“We want to score a lot in the first 20 minutes, but I don't think it will happen. The approach is to read the game we have to play – be completely relaxed, no emotions and understand the game.
“I know this kind of games that you have to place in something special – there has not been enough in this Champions League – to win the matches.”
'We have not been good enough'
The city is in this perilous situation after giving up a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 in Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Although they are two points outside the play-off positions, their task is at least simple because Clubbrugge is one of the teams above them that they can catch.
The victory would therefore be enough to take a play-off place and Guardiola, also a double-winning coach at Barcelona, is used to dealing with such pressure.
He said: “I have been in the Champions League for many years since I started my career as a manager, and these kinds of games that I played many times.
“Sooner or later you have to play these kinds of games where if you win, you continue and if you don't, go out.
“It happened more in the further phases, but we are here for the reasons we know that we have not been good enough, but this is a situation that we have lived many times.”
Guardiola refuses to consider the prospect of the defeat.
He added: “It would not be good [to lose] But I don't think about that now. “
Asked if it would be embarrassing, he said: “Ask the question afterwards. I know you want it!
'Thank you for worrying. I know how to worry when we are gone. After the game you can ask me and I'll answer you. “
'It's a final for both parties'
The deployment is also high for Club Brugge, who come into play on the back of an unbeaten run of 20 games.
Guardiola said: “It is a final for both of us. I expect a tough opponent. When a team is unbeaten 20-21 games, it is because they are good. There are no secrets about that.
“They do really good-differing variations in the structure, a MAN marking situation, it is always uncomfortable.
“We have to do well, but in every team, including Manchester City, there are weaknesses. You have to try to discover them all and try to punish them.”
Gvardiol's warning for city teammates
The city is without defenders Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, but his hopeful John Stones, who did not start a month, will be fit after he appeared from the bank against Chelsea on Saturday.
Defender Josko Gvardiol has warned his teammates not to expect an easy ride against Clubbrugge.
“I can tell you that they are a good team,” he said. “It is not easy. I was standing in front of RB Leipzig three years ago and they were really good.
“They play with the Wide Wingers to let them play one V one, so I think it will be a good game, we need the points, we have to win and we are going to do everything to win the game.”
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