Jose Mourinho’s late gamble sends Manchester City into the Champions League last 16, sparking thanks and a touch of confusion.
Pep Guardiola promised to personally thank his old rival Jose Mourinho after a bizarre and dramatic finale on Wednesday night saw Manchester City squeeze into the Champions League’s top eight.
While City did their part with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray, their fate rested on events in Lisbon, where Real Madrid led Mourinho’s Benfica 3-2. With Benfica needing a goal to stay in the competition, a collective gasp echoed from the Etihad dressing room as Benfica’s goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, charged forward for a last-gasp free-kick.
“We were all there, and we didn’t know Benfica need a goal to qualify,” a smiling Guardiola confessed. “When their goalkeeper goes up, we said, ‘Why you go?’ But it was a good strategy for Jose.”
The strategy paid off spectacularly, with Trubin scoring a stunning header to seal a 4-2 win for Benfica. The result propelled City into the automatic last-16 spots and spared them two grueling play-off rounds in the new year.
Guardiola was quick to acknowledge the unexpected favor. “Yeah, of course I will contact Jose to say thanks,” he said. “Finishing in the top eight, considering how the Champions League has become… we are really pleased.”
For City’s players, the relief was palpable. “With a bit of drama, we did it,” admitted Bernardo Silva, highlighting the importance of avoiding extra fixtures amid a packed schedule and an injury list. “To have those two full weeks… is going to be really good.”
In Lisbon, Mourinho celebrated a historic moment for Benfica. “A fantastic goal, a historic goal,” he said of Trubin’s winner. “I think it was very deserved for us… For Benfica, it’s an incredible prestige to beat Real Madrid.”
Ultimately, the night belonged to a goalkeeper’s improbable header and the renewed, if peculiar, camaraderie between two of football’s most famous adversaries. For Guardiola and City, a rival’s triumph provided their own crucial victory.
Similar Posts:
- Mourinho Questions Arteta’s “Magic Strategy” after Arsenal’s Defensive Display
- Mourinho Appointed Benfica Manager in Dramatic Return
- Mourinho’s Turkish Adventure Ends Abruptly After Champions League Heartbreak
- Pep Guardiola Responds to Mourinho’s Remarks Amid Heated Exchange Over Premier League Titles
- Jose Mourinho’s Laptop Protest Steals the Spotlight in Fenerbahce’s 2-0 Victory Over Antalyaspor (Video)
