‘This is…’: Pep Guardiola gives reality check with Manchester City on the brink of Champions League exit

Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City side “couldn’t cope” with Paris Saint-Germain after they squandered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to the French side on Wednesday, leaving their Champions League hopes on the brink. “They were better,” Guardiola told reporters after the match. “We have to accept that. We have the last chance at home against Brugge. We will do everything there, and if we don’t it’s because we don’t deserve it.” Parc des Princes.

“They were better, we have to accept that. It’s a sport, and so on.”

City took control of the game with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland both scoring goals early in the second half for the visitors.

But Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back and Bradley Barkola equalized after the hour mark for Paris Saint-Germain, who then took the lead with a header from Joao Neves in the 78th minute, and the win was sealed in stoppage time when Goncalo Ramos scored his fourth goal.

Paris Saint-Germain is ahead of City in the standings, leaving Guardiola’s side in 25th place out of 36 teams with eight points from seven matches.

Only the top 24 teams advance to the knockout stage, but City host Club Brugge in the final match of the league stage next Wednesday, and a win in that match should be enough for the 2023 European champions to advance to the play-off round.

Before that, City hosts Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday in a key match in the fight for fourth place domestically.

Guardiola, who referred to the presence of an additional player in midfield as essential, added: “I knew it would be difficult. Paris Saint-Germain is an exceptional team. We were not able to adapt.”

“I would say otherwise, but when a team plays better you have to accept that.

“Now we have to prepare for a difficult match against Chelsea and of course the final against Brugge. Try to keep going. I know the players gave everything they could.”

It is not yet clear whether Ruben Dias will feature in either of those matches after the Portuguese defender went off at half-time in Paris.

“He asked to be replaced because he was not in good condition,” the coach said of Dias, who has just returned from a period of absence due to injury.

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