Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City must fight hard to secure a Champions League playoff tie in February after their latest defeat, a 2-0 loss to Juventus, effectively dashed their hopes of automatic qualification for the last 16. City have now won just once in their last 10 games and were comprehensively beaten in Turin, despite controlling large portions of the match. Familiar issues at both ends of the pitch resurfaced to haunt them, and when Josko Gvardiol's poor clearance led to Dusan Vlahovic's opener, the outcome was sealed. They currently sit 22nd in the 36-team table, with upcoming fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge to conclude their group stage. A drop of three more places would see them eliminated, while they are five points adrift of the top eight. This leaves a finish between ninth and 24th as the likely scenario, which would secure a second chance but require two additional games in an already congested schedule.
"It's the target," Guardiola said. "We need one point, three points. We need to go to Paris and try to achieve it, and then the final game at home." Guardiola defended his team's performance, noting that Erling Haaland missed their best chance in the 39th minute, and they had opportunities before Weston McKennie sealed the victory. "We played well: really, really well," he said. "We just missed the final pass, the last action when we got close, and we conceded chances during some transitions. It happens, but I am incredibly proud of these players."
When asked if he was questioning his own decisions during this unprecedented run, Guardiola responded: "Of course I question myself. I remain stable in both good and bad moments. I try to find a way to improve. I am always honest; if we play well, we play well. The game will always guide us." After the match, Ilkay Gündogan suggested that City were lacking confidence and facing a "mental issue" that affected their rhythm. "In crucial moments, we are currently making the wrong decisions," Gündogan said. However, Guardiola took a more optimistic view.
"I don't agree with Ilkay," Guardiola said. "It's tough, of course. Except for one or two games during this period that weren't good, the rest of our performances have been solid."
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