Man City: Pep Guardiola needs improvement for Champions League play-offs

Even in victory here, City were too often vulnerable on the counter-attack, with too many spaces in midfield for Club Brugge to exploit, but they dug deep when it mattered and clawed themselves out of the hole they were in.

City will somehow have to fashion a vast improvement in the short period between this win and the play-offs if they are not to slip out at that stage.

This was unthinkable at the start of the season given their pedigree, but it has become very thinkable in recent weeks, especially after the fearful going over they got when losing 4-2 in Paris.

Guardiola, relieved as well as pleased, is hoping City will soon be in a stronger position, able to call on new forward Omar Marmoush among others, while history is littered with teams who turned early struggles into Champions League triumph.

John Stones made a welcome return, while Guardiola is hoping others such as Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake could be back, along with Oscar Bobb, while Kevin de Bruyne can acquire more minutes and fitness.

Guardiola can also call on the memories of beating Bayern and Real on their way to Champions League final victory against Inter Milan in Istanbul in 2023.

“It might seem impossible today, but tomorrow the mindset, the vibes will change,” Guardiola said. “We will try against Real or Bayern. We will create problems. These players have something special. We will try to do it.”

It was almost the talk of an underdog, rarely Manchester City’s station in recent years.

This is where they stand now in this tournament – but when a team of proven quality have a fighting chance, then can defy the odds.

City, however, will have to climb several levels if this painful, tortuous Champions League journey is to continue in the last 16.