THE GREAT CITY EXCAPE

Pep rings changes to inspire fightback

- JEREMY CROSS

MANCHESTER CITY produced a second-half comeback to limp into the Champions League play-offs and spare themselves more humiliation in Europe.

But if anyone thinks the 2023 champions will now go on to conquer Europe again, they had better give their heads a wobble.

The truth is, Pep Guardiola's side barely deserved to survive this by the skin of their teeth.

Club Brugge took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Raphael Onyedika and wasted more chances to inflict further damage on City.

And when the hosts finally decided to wake up, City made Brugge pay thanks to second-half strikes from Mateo Kovacic and substitute Savinho, with an own goal from Joel Ordonez sandwiched in between.

Yet Guardiola's side progressed courtesy of goal difference, and still down in 22nd place in the table.

Which will hardly strike fear into the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona.