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Manchester City’s challenging season faced another setback on Wednesday as they endured a disastrous 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage. This loss leaves the reigning English Premier League champions on the verge of elimination from the tournament, requiring a victory in their final group match against Club Brugge to have any hope of advancing.
City, in recent seasons, has been a winning machine. Under Pep Guardiola, the team has seemed unbeatable at times but it’s now a mere shadow of its former self.
It should have been a comfortable night against PSG, having gone two goals up through Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish in the second half. But, as has been an unwanted trend this season, City threw away its advantage with PSG scoring four goals to turn the result around.
“They (PSG) were better, and we have to accept it,” Guardiola told reporters after the match. “We have the last chance at home against Brugge and we will do everything there. If not, it’s because we don’t deserve it.”
Despite going ahead, City continued to look vulnerable against PSG’s pace – with Bradley Barcola proving particularly hard to handle. The 22-year-old showed his electric pace when setting up Ousmane Dembélé for PSG’s first goal in the 56th minute, and then scored himself four minutes later to draw level. João Neves then headed in at the back post to give the host the lead in the 78th minute, before Gonçalo Ramos completed the rout in injury time.
“We had our moments and they had their moments, but they were better,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.
“They were quicker, faster, they won the duels, we could not cope. They were fast. The best team won. The game was never like we wanted.”
City now sits 25th in the Champions League table, just outside the playoff qualification spots, having managed just eight points from its seven group games so far.
