Pep Guardiola admitted to a sense of relief and satisfaction after Manchester City booked direct passage into the Champions League Round of 16, sparing themselves a demanding February play-off schedule.
A hard-fought 2-0 victory over Galatasaray was enough to seal a top-eight finish, even as City navigated the contest without nine players due to injury, ineligibility and suspension.
The result ensured the Cityzens avoided an additional two matches that could have stretched their calendar to nine games in just 28 days, a scenario Guardiola was keen to sidestep as the season gathers pace.
“The first half was better than the second, but in the second half there were more chances than the first. A lot of things to improve,” said Guardiola.
“We’re really pleased to finish top eight considering how the Champions League has become.
“When I started 16 or 17 years ago, qualification was not as difficult.
“Today, every team is really, really tough, and I’m really pleased and hopefully we can arrive in March in our best.”
Despite the victory, Guardiola was quick to point out areas that still need refining, especially given the experimental nature of his midfield on the night.
“We started really well and had chances. We had no proper holding midfielders there.
“Jeremy and Omar were excellent, but we had incredible chances and maybe we [could have] needed more goals to qualify.
“But I’m really pleased because we have long weeks [until the Round of 16] and we need it.
“Not just that, that we’ve already qualified. Hopefully in that moment we can arrive better.”
Guardiola also highlighted the competitiveness of the revamped Champions League format, noting how several high-profile sides failed to make the cut.
“Look how many incredible teams are out of the top 24 and how many are not in the top eight and still it’s the youngest team we have played in my years here in the Champions League.
“It’s a process to learn and hopefully Rodri, Marc and Semenyo will be back when we are there. That’s good news.”
The tension lingered even after City’s own job was done, with Guardiola revealing the squad closely followed events elsewhere that could have altered their fate. Benfica’s late 4-2 win over Real Madrid ultimately confirmed City’s top-eight status.
“We were all there,” said Pep.
“We didn’t know Benfica needed a goal to qualify. That’s why when we saw Jose [Mourinho] sending the goalkeeper forward we said ‘why?’ because Madrid can equalise and we would be out of the top eight.
“It was good strategy for Jose right to score that fourth goal.”
Looking at the Champions League format more broadly, Guardiola offered a balanced verdict, acknowledging both its demands and its intensity.
“I don’t like that there are more games, but I like it.
“I like when you play home and away and every game is like a final. You don’t have much idea what they are going to do, and every game is really tough.
“It doesn’t matter whether we are in the play-off or not, it’s about arriving in that moment in the best condition.
“Considering how many of the top teams are out of the top eight we know how difficult it is. With not winning in Norway, it was difficult.”
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