Manchester City’s struggles in the UEFA Champions League continue with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus, marking their third consecutive winless match in Europe’s elite competition.
DETAILS:
Manchester City’s Champions League campaign hit another roadblock on matchday six as the Blues suffered a 2-0 loss to Juventus. The defeat adds to an increasingly concerning trend, with City now winless in three consecutive European matches: a 4-1 thrashing by Sporting CP, a dramatic 3-3 draw against Feyenoord, and this latest setback in Turin.
This slump extends beyond Europe. City’s overall form in the past 10 matches is grim, with seven losses, two draws, and just a single victory—a stark contrast to their usual dominance. These results have left Pep Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the Champions League league phase standings, only three spots above elimination.
With just two matchdays remaining, City face an uphill battle to secure progression. They next face 25th-placed Paris Saint-Germain before wrapping up the league phase against 19th-placed Club Brugge.
QUOTES:
Despite the string of poor results, manager Pep Guardiola remains defiant and proud of his team’s performance. Reflecting on the Juventus match, Guardiola said:
“Of course, it’s tough. Except one or two games in this period that were not good, we played quite similarly, and I give credit to Juventus. Tonight, I don’t think it was defensive mistakes much…that was not the reason (for the loss), other games yes but not today.”
Guardiola continued to express his faith in his players, saying:
“I love my team, the way we play, and the result is not going to convince me of the opposite. Congratulations on the way they defended…we were incredibly aggressive in our high pressing. But the way we played, I’m really pleased.”
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Guardiola remained resolute:
“What has happened, that is life. It happened. We have to accept it like a normality that sometimes we have bad periods with results, and we’re going to insist, insist, insist until the end.”
KEEP IN MIND:
Manchester City’s Champions League fate now hinges on their final two matches. Their clash with PSG could be a crucial decider, but Guardiola’s unwavering support for his team suggests the Blues are ready to fight until the final whistle.
