Josko Gvardiol says Manchester City need 'luck' in UEFA Champions League push, as Pep Guardiola readies Citizens for Bayer Leverkusen 'final'
By Lewis Mason
Updated 24/11/2025 at 18:14 GMT
React to this story
Manchester City are unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League with three wins and one draw so far, but go into their latest league-phase game on the back of defeat in the Premier League against Newcastle. Josko Gvardiol and Pep Guardiola sat down with TNT Sports ahead of the game to discuss how they plan to bounce back and the "luck" they need in Europe. Watch the action on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'I feel embarrassed and ashamed' - Guardiola apologises for cameraman incident
Video credit: SNTV
Josko Gvardiol hopes Manchester City get the "luck" they need to take them a step closer to reaching the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
They host Bayer Leverkusen - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - knowing a win will keep them on course to finish in the top eight of the league phase, something they failed to do last season.
Twelve months ago, Pep Guardiola’s side were struggling in Europe and ended up finishing 22nd in the league phase.
They were eliminated in the play-off round by Real Madrid, who beat them 6-3 over two legs.
Reflecting on what has changed this season, Gvardiol told TNT Sports: "Sometimes you need a bit of luck with everything we do.
"We have quality, we know how to perform and how to play. Even with the manager, he does half of the job, even more. I think a bit of luck is what we need.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/11/24/image-3279dc1d-810e-4762-9cb6-52252990b0bb-85-2560-1440.png)
Gvardiol: City ‘sharper and more mentally ready’ to challenge for titles this season
Video credit: TNT Sports
"A bit of luck. I think that’s what we missed last season, definitely, but I think also that this season we are sharper and more mentally ready than in the previous one."
They come into this match with Leverkusen on the back of a humbling Premier League defeat against Newcastle United - a game in which they were on the wrong end of a penalty call, handball shout and a tight offside decision.
Guardiola lost his cool at full-time and confronted a camera operator at St James’ Park, something he has since apologised for, saying he feels "ashamed" of the incident.
Speaking of how his manager reacts to defeats, Gvardiol said: "After you lose a game, everyone is still full of energy, like you want to give the best to win, to explain to the referee what he has done. This is normal, I think it’s normal. I think without that you cannot compete, you cannot fight for the titles."
- Estevao tipped to reach Yamal 'level'
- Liverpool have 'too many stars' like England's Golden Generation
- 'Finished article' Arsenal likened to Mourinho's Chelsea
As for Gvardiol, he is more measured in his analysis.
He said: "We are all different and I can speak about myself.
"If we haven’t had a good game, I’m still going to think about it, I’m going to try to ask myself what happened and, of course, I don’t sleep good after games like this. This is normal.
"A good thing is that in two days, a new game is coming. Of course, you want to be as best as you can. Prepare yourself, recover well and be ready for 90 minutes again."
'Tomorrow is a real final' - Guardiola
Guardiola is desperate for his side not to slip out of the UEFA Champions League top eight, having enjoyed an unbeaten campaign to date.
Apart from a 2-2 draw with Monaco, City have enjoyed a winning start in Europe which is far removed from their previous effort in the competition.
Looking back at what went wrong last season, Guardiola said: "I think in this period, one game before this one, we started to get a lot of injuries and important games we had the worst period.
"That punished us a lot and we struggled."
Compared to this time around, Guardiola told TNT Sports: "We are in a good position in terms of that but I think tomorrow is a real final.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/11/24/image-2a1b30b7-9eb7-4715-ad48-cad92ed7881b-85-2560-1440.png)
Guardiola eyeing top-eight league phase finish ahead of ‘real final’ against Leverkusen
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Tomorrow, and especially the two games at home. If we are able to make the six points at home and take something away in the last two games we have, we’ll be close to qualifying in the first eight."
Although he recognises a top-eight finish is not the be all and end all, Guardiola is keen for his team to have the most straightforward route in the competition.
He said: "PSG finished, I don’t know, 13th or 14th [15th], I don’t know exactly but not in the first stage [last season] and were the champions.
"It’s important to qualify, in the first stage is better because the club earn more money and we have no one round - you go direct - which is so important but [what is] important is you go through and that is the key."
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement