Pep Guardiola admits early UEFA Champions League exit 'could happen' after Manchester City fall to Paris Saint-Germain

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Pep Guardiola made no excuses for Manchester City's 4-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to PSG. The 2022/23 winners held a 2-0 lead in Paris, but quickly blew that advantage. It means they are on the brink of being eliminated from the competition, as only a win from their final league phase match against Club Brugge will be enough to guarantee a play-off qualification spot.

‘Best team won’ – Guardiola reacts after Man City let two-goal lead slip in loss to PSG

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Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City did not deserve to win their UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain – and accepts that an early exit from the competition could become reality following a 4-2 defeat at the Parc de Princes.

The Premier League club led the game 2-0 after 53 minutes, thanks to goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland.

But the hosts hit back, equalising through Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, before securing a valuable three points late on when Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos found the back of the net.

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And Guardiola had no complaints about the end result, telling TNT Sports: "They were better. They were quicker, faster. They won the duels with the ball.

"They had one moment in the middle and we could not cope with that. They are fast. I accept the defeat, because the best team won."

City went into the game knowing a defeat could be fatal in their hopes of finishing in the top 24.

The result ultimately leaves them in 25th place, two points outside of the play-off positions. It is also a third defeat across their last four games in this competition.

After a desperate run in recent months, City thought they had turned a corner since Christmas. They had been on a six-game unbeaten run, winning four times.

But this result could spell a miserable end to the campaign for a club who are all but out of the Premier League title race.

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Now, only a victory in their final league phase fixture will be enough to secure a place in the play-offs; any other result will see them eliminated from the competition.

"It could happen," Guardiola admitted. "If we don't win, we don't deserve it.

"We didn't do enough points and we have to accept it. The last game against Bruge will dictate what we have to do."

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Guardiola conceded that his team could not control the game in the way they are used to: "First half, they had the moments.

"They had one or two, we had one or two in terms of chances, but they were better.

"Attitude was fine. We scored all in five minutes, they scored all in five minutes.

"To play, you have to play. We could not. To defend the result, you have to keep the ball. We did not have it.

"They had it more, they attacked better and that's why it's more difficult."

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