As Manchester City seek to get back to their best we can see a conflict between what Pep Guardiola wants his side to be and what they are.

Pep Guardiola & Carlo Ancelotti react as Man City will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-offs.

His side live to fight another day, but Pep Guardiola is in no doubt that whatever Friday's Champions League draw holds for Manchester City, his side will be underdogs. Winning the competition entirely?

Pep Guardiola kicked out at a drinks cooler in a moment of relief as Manchester City avoided an early exit from the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City team face a ‘really tough’ task to progress in the Champions League after being drawn against Real Madrid of Bayern Munich in the play-offs. Man City avoided an embarrassing Champions League exit by coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola praised substitute Savinho for providing the spark to rescue Manchester City's Champions League campaign after they overturned a first-half deficit to beat Club Brugge 3-1. City looked set to miss out on the knockout stages for the first time since 2012-13 after conceding to Raphael Onyedika in their must-win league phase encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola has said he doesn't think Manchester City can win the Champions League this season after they scraped into the play-off round to book a tie against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

The Belgian champions were on course to send Manchester City packing before the knockout stages for the first time since 2012 when Raphael Onyedika fired the visitors into the lead just before half-time.

How did everyone like that new Champions League format? The finish sets up the tantalizing prospect of a Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City playoff to get into the next round — Bayern, coached by former Man City star Vincent Kompany;

The clash between Arsenal and Man City will be broadcast on TV, with both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event showing the match. A valid subscription to Sky Sports is required to view the headline tie on Sunday, with all of the build-up, action and reaction coming from it.

Eddie Howe has now been announced as a nomination for the Premier League Manager of the Month award for January 2025. The Newcastle United boss is one of four nominated.