Pep Guardiola recalled the tense final moments watching Benfica face Real Madrid and expressed thanks to José Mourinho for helping Manchester City automatically advance to the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
On 29 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Pep Guardiola admitted he plans to call José Mourinho, his former El Clásico rival who stood on the opposite side of the intense Barcelona-Real Madrid divide, after Manchester City secured automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16.
Guardiola's team did their part by defeating Galatasaray 2-0, but the situation remained uncertain until the final seconds because if Madrid had equalized, City would have dropped into the playoff round.
However, a dramatic turn came when Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin moved forward to join a late free kick and scored an incredible header in the 97th minute, helping José Mourinho's team win 4-2 and secure their advancement, which in turn guaranteed City's place among the top eight.
After the match, Guardiola revealed he watched the events anxiously with his players in the dressing room and admitted surprise at seeing the opposing goalkeeper push forward at such a crucial moment. "We didn’t even know Benfica needed another goal to advance. When we saw their goalkeeper go up, everyone asked, ‘Why is he going up?’ But in the end, it was Mourinho’s brilliant tactic."
"Of course, I have to thank him. Finishing in the top eight of the Champions League nowadays is no easy feat. Every team is very strong, and we are extremely pleased," he added.
Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva highlighted the importance of avoiding two additional playoff matches for the team’s goal of winning four trophies. "There was some drama, but the outcome was perfect. Not having to play those extra two games helps us a lot, especially with a packed schedule and injury issues. We will have more time to recover and focus on other competitions."