Pep Guardiola has accepted Manchester City’s 4-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, admitting the French side were better, Afrosport reports.
The Citizens raced to a 2-0 second half lead courtesy of Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. PSG however responded almost immediately with Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola levelling matters before Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos registered their names on the scoresheet to win the game.
It marked the ninth time in all competitions City failed to win from a lead this season while it was the first time in 115 matches that they lost a game after going two goals up.
“Am I angry? No. They [PSG] were better. The players suffer and they were better,” Guardiola said per the club website.
“They had better intensity to win duels. We found our moment to score two goals and go 0-2. When they have the ball they drop us but when we have the ball we create problems for them.
“At 0-2 and 1-2 we could not play. To defend, you have to have the ball. They were better. They had an extra man in the middle with a false nine and that’s why it was difficult.
“They were better, and we have to accept it. We have the last chance at home against Brugge and we will do everything there. If not, it’s because we don’t deserve it.
“We have had tough games away, but the games against Inter and Feyenoord have put us in this position.
“It’s not about that that we can’t qualify, but after that you have to recover players and do better. They were better and we have to accept it.”
115 – Tonight was the first time in the last 115 occasions that Man City have lost a game in all competitions where they led by 2+ goals. Shock. pic.twitter.com/fwadG7iQoh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2025
The result sees Man City in danger of being eliminated from the Champions League as they occupy 25th spot, two points behind Stuttgart who occupy the final round of 16 playoff spot.
The 2023 champions must beat Club Brugge in the final game at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday to potentially avoid failing to reach the knockout phase for the first time in 12 years.
