Pep Guardiola did not hold back his honest assessment of Manchester City's Champions League hopes this season. Manchester City saved their Champions League season with a 3–1 victory over Club Brugge on the final day of the Champions League league phase.

Manchester City will not win the Champions League this season. There, I’ve said it. Somebody had to. As City clambered desperately aboard the last lifeboat off the titanic climax to UEFA’s catchily-named League Phase, the other survivors all cursed quietly under their breath. Nobody wants Guardiola in Friday’s bracket draw.

Pep Guardiola is ready to register Rodri for the Champions League knockout stages in the hope that the Ballon d’Or winner can return from his serious knee injury this season to play in the latter stages of the competition.