Champions League ‘so complicated’ – Guardiola

On Wednesday night City drew 1-1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach to seal passage to the Champions League knockout stage, with Guardiola using four different defensive units.

Pep Guardiola says his impressive Champions League record does not mean Manchester City are guaranteed to succeed in the competition this season.

The 33-year-old was dropped from Guardiola’s squad at the beginning of the season after his agent Dimitri Seluk hit out at the Spanish coach in the press.

City will now switch attention to tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Burnley. “It was also a very complex game, but I thought we defended superbly”.

Guardiola’s players stayed in Germany to train on Thursday before flying home.

“We have 22-23 players but when you play 14 players you don’t have just 22-23 players [to choose from], you have 14”.

The point confirms City will finish second in their group with one game left.

“These players and this club are so new in Europe and every time we play a game like this we improve”, he said.

“Yaya can play in many positions, but I think we have other options to play as central defenders”.

“Of course it is better to go to the half-time 1-1 than the other result”.

Andre Schubert’s side had been struggling of late, winless in their last four games, including a disappointing 1-1 draw with Celtic in their last UCL outing, but got off to a strong start in front of their vocal home fans. “His behaviour was absolutely ideal”, Guardiola said of Toure, whose style doesn’t make him a flawless fit for Guardiola’s fast-paced ball movement.

City’s John Stones, who had earlier been nutmegged by Nico Elvedi, lost out in the air to Stindl, who charged to the edge of the box.

Burnley (4-2-6) slipped to 12th in the table after absorbing their heaviest loss of the season, 4-0 at West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

The five-time World Player of the Year, who excelled for Guardiola at the Camp Nou, has always been linked with City, especially since his mentor was appointed manager at the Etihad Stadium.

“It was a insane game with a lot of twists and turns, but we are very happy that we managed to pick up a point”. There was not enough energy, enough fight actually.

“Always it is hard after the Champions League game because of the travel and the demands – not just physically”, Guardiola added.

“We need to pick ourselves up. “(City) are a fantastic team.

“Hopefully in the last 16 we can make a good result away and qualify for the quarterfinals”.