The “killer goal” that helped Man City… Guardiola thanks Mourinho

And he won Manchester City They beat Galatasaray with two unanswered goals at the Etihad Stadium in their last league game on Wednesday evening, but needed another result to help them ensure a top-eight finish in the league.

It seemed at one point that City’s victory over Galatasaray was enough to qualify directly for the round of 16, but late goals by Sporting Lisbon from Portugal and Chelsea from England made the team suffer in eighth place, and after the final whistle was heard at the Etihad Stadium, Real Madrid was the only team that could still surpass Manchester City, but it failed at the end of its former coach and Mourinho. Benfica.

When Guardiola was asked if he would like to send a message of appreciation to Mourinho, he said, “Of course.”

Instead, Benfica were on their way out of the competition until goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin scored their fourth goal in stoppage time.

Guardiola and his players watched the final moments with difficulty in the locker room.

Guardiola explained: “We were all there. We didn’t know that Benfica needed a goal to qualify. When the keeper went forward, we said, why are you going? Stay in the goal because Real Madrid can draw. After that, we will be out of the competition. But it was a good way from Jose, wasn’t it? To score the fourth goal.”

The move means Manchester City will avoid a double-header in February, which led to their relegation last season.