Pep Guardiola thanks Jose Mourinho as Benfica magic sees Man City sneak through
By Andy Hampson, Press Association
Pep Guardiola thanked his old rival Jose Mourinho after Manchester City snatched a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
City beat Galatasaray comfortably enough at the Etihad Stadium in their final league-phase match on Wednesday but needed results elsewhere to go in their favour to be sure of finishing in the top eight.
At one stage their 2-0 success looked set to take them through with something to spare but late goals by Sporting Lisbon and Chelsea left them sweating in eighth place.
When the final whistle was blown at the Etihad Stadium, Real Madrid were the only team that could still overtake City but they were ultimately beaten by 4-2 in dramatic circumstances by Mourinho’s Benfica.
Asked if he would send Mourinho a message of gratitude, City manager Guardiola said: “Of course.”
Benfica had actually been heading out of the competition altogether until their goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored their fourth goal in stoppage time.
Guardiola and his players watched those final few moments nervously in the dressing room.
“We were all there,” said Guardiola. “We didn’t know that Benfica needed a goal to qualify.
“With the goalkeeper we said, ‘why you go? Stay in the goal because Madrid can equalise!’ After that, we are out.
“But it was a good strategy for Jose, right? To score the fourth goal.”
That goal means City avoid the two-legged play-off round in February that proved their undoing last season.
Guardiola said: “There are a lot of things to improve but we are really pleased to finish top eight, considering how (tough) the Champions League has become.
“When I started 16 or 17 years ago, the Champions League was a different type of competition than today. Every team is really, really, really, really, really tough.
“We’re really pleased to not play one knockout stage. Hopefully we can arrive in March at our best.”
They will play Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the next round.
The downside for City was the loss of winger Jeremy Doku with a calf injury in the first half.
The Belgian sparkled in the first half hour and created both goals for Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
Guardiola was unclear on how long he could be sidelined but all but ruled him out of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.
“Unfortunately, he won’t be ready for a few more days,” said Guardiola.
Haaland’s goal was his first from open play in 10 games but Guardiola never doubted his star striker.
He said: “I love a lot that he missed one clear chance but, after that, had the composure to make this incredible touch. When you’re anxious, you don’t do that.”
