Pep Guardiola Confident Manchester City Will Qualify for Champions League Knockout Stage

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his team must win against Club Brugge to advance in the Champions League, with the club's knockout stage hopes on the line.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has emphasized the importance of winning their final group game against Club Brugge on Wednesday, as they aim to stay in the hunt for the Champions League knockout stages. Guardiola is aware of the financial implications of failing to reach the knockout stages, which could impact the club's business in the transfer market. “In the last two or three transfer windows, it's always been positive. I'm not naive enough to not know how important it is financially for the club to go through in this competition,” Guardiola said during a press conference on Tuesday.

The stakes are high for Manchester City, as they sit 25th in the standings, outside even the playoff spots. The top eight teams qualify directly for the last 16, while the clubs that finish ninth to 24th contest the knockout phase playoffs to advance. Guardiola acknowledged that missing out on the knockout stages could have significant consequences for the club. However, he emphasized that his primary motivation is sporting success, rather than financial considerations. ”It can affect the club, but, of course, we want to try to make it happen and go through first for sporting reasons,” he said.

Guardiola also highlighted the club's significant investment in the transfer market over the past five or six years. He noted that the club's net spend has been substantial, and that they have been willing to spend money to achieve their goals. “In the last five or six years, the net spend at this club has been amazing. The club said, 'OK, the situation is the situation. If we want to spend, we can spend. If not, we don't spend,'” Guardiola explained. With this level of investment, the pressure to deliver success is high, and Guardiola is well aware of the importance of achieving their objectives.

Manchester City has already made significant investments in the transfer market this month, spending over £120 million on forward Omar Marmoush and defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov. As the team prepares to face Brugge in the Champions League, manager Pep Guardiola is focused on securing a win to ensure City's progression to the knockout stage.

PEP 💬 I expect a tough opponent. When a team is 21 games unbeaten it is because they are good. There are no secrets about that... [They have] different variations in the build-up. We have to read well what we have to do. But every team has weaknesses. You have to find them and… pic.twitter.com/RZiWzgzhks

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 28, 2025

Guardiola was reluctant to discuss the potential embarrassment of failing to qualify for the knockout stage, instead emphasizing the importance of winning the upcoming match. “We have to win the game and if not then we won't continue in the competition. We want to go through to have another chance to play another two games and qualify for the next stage,” he said. When asked about the potential embarrassment of not qualifying, Guardiola deflected the question, saying, “I appreciate your concern about not qualifying but I think we are going to do it... Ask me after the game.”

PEP 💬 (On John Stones) He played 35 minutes [against Chelsea] and played really well. We will see today how he feels. pic.twitter.com/Z0v7FF2heD

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 28, 2025

City has a strong record against Brugge, having beaten them 5-1 and 4-1 in the 2021/22 campaign. However, Guardiola warned that the Belgian side is vastly different from the team they played three seasons ago. Brugge has not lost a game in all competitions since late October and sits 20th in the Champions League standings, three points above City. Guardiola acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “We would like to score lots of goals in the first 20 minutes but I don't think that will happen.”

Guardiola expressed his admiration for Brugge's recent form, highlighting the team's unbeaten streak. “I expect a tough game. When a team are unbeaten... it's because they are good, there's no secret there. They have done really well.” With both teams needing a win to advance, Guardiola emphasized the magnitude of the match, saying, “It's a final for both of us, especially for us.”