Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said he is aware of the financial implications of not being able to reach the Champions League knockout phase with his team, which goes to the last game of the group stage on Wednesday (29) Against Club Brugge needing a victory to continue in the dispute.
City has reached the knockout phase of all seasons since taking over in 2016, but runs the risk of staying out with this year’s new format: it is in 25th place in the classification, even the vacancies for Playoffs.
The eight best teams qualify directly to the round of 16, while the clubs ending from ninth to 24th place vie for playoffs, and Guardiola said the city could not qualify could affect their plans in the transfer market.
“In the last two or three transfer windows, it has always been positive. I am not naive that I do not know how important it is financially for the club to participate in this competition, ”Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday (28).
“This may affect the club, but of course we want to try to make it happen and first go through sports reasons. Over the past five or six years, the club’s liquid expense was amazing. The club said: ‘Okay, the situation is this. If we want to spend, we can spend. If not, we don’t spend, ‘”he added.
City has spent more than £ 120 million ($ 149.14 million) on the advocates and this month.
And Guardiola didn’t want to discuss what it would be embarrassed if the team didn’t qualify for the knockout phase.
“We have to win the game and, if we do not win, we will not continue in the competition. We want to go to another chance to play two more games and we qualify for the next phase, ”he said.
“I understand your concern not to qualify, but I think we’ll be able to… ask me after the game [se será embaraçoso se o City não se classificar].”
