Guardiola seeks to take pressure off Man City before PSG Champions

AFP | Paris

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Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola sought to take some of the pressure off his side coming into Wednesday’s crunch Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, playing down the possible impact of a defeat in the French capital. The Premier League champions are 22nd in the 36-team standings with eight points from six games, having picked up just a single point from their last three outings.

The top 24 teams will progress to the knockout phase, and PSG lie 25th, a point behind their opponents on Wednesday -- there is therefore a real possibility that one of these two behemoths will be knocked out. However, Guardiola calmly pointed out that a win in their final fixture next week at home to Club Brugge may suffice to progress regardless of the outcome in Paris.

“Of course it is a really important game for us and PSG but we have another game against Bruges at home,” Guardiola said during a press conference at the Parc des Princes. “I know winning the two games mathematically we will be there but maybe with just one victory too.”

City, winners of the Champions League in 2023, endured a wretched run of form at the end of the old year, managing a single victory in 13 matches in all competitions. However, they have since recorded four wins in five, including a 6-0 demolition of Ipswich Town on Sunday.