Pep Guardiola reveals half-time message to inspire comeback win and praises 'incredible' star - City were 45 minutes away from a shock Champions League exit

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City avoided Champions League humiliation. Now back to the job of salvaging the Premier League season. Manager Pep Guardiola admitted this week he could not imagine City going on to be crowned champion of Europe for the second time in three years with a playoff against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich awaiting.

Pep Guardiola praised substitute Savinho for providing the spark to rescue Manchester City's Champions League campaign after they overturned a first-half deficit to beat Club Brugge 3-1. City looked set to miss out on the knockout stages for the first time since 2012-13 after conceding to Raphael Onyedika in their must-win league phase encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City team face a ‘really tough’ task to progress in the Champions League after being drawn against Real Madrid of Bayern Munich in the play-offs. Man City avoided an embarrassing Champions League exit by coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola has said he doesn't think Manchester City can win the Champions League this season after they scraped into the play-off round to book a tie against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

The Belgian champions were on course to send Manchester City packing before the knockout stages for the first time since 2012 when Raphael Onyedika fired the visitors into the lead just before half-time.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that journalists will have had their headlines ready following a fire outside the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.The Premier League champions

The victory in their league-phase finale secured Pep Guardiola's men a spot in the two-legged play-off knockout round

It is a well-known fact that Kevin De Bruyne is in the last six months of his current contract with Manchester City. The future of the City legend has been a topic of conversation for some time now.

We also know Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola are very close, while City are the reigning champs and have just pipped Arsenal to the title in each of the last two Premier League seasons. This rivalry has been bubbling up nicely.

Manchester City have made it into the knock-out stages of the Champions League and they may still welcome back the injured star.