Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City's must-win fixture with Club Brugge on Wednesday is a 'final', but played down the idea that his side have turned a corner with a run of just one defeat in nine in 2025.

Guardiola was trying to get his players into a mindset that ensures they beat Brugge and secure the win they need to finish in the top 24 of the Champions League League Phase, knowing anything else will see City crash out before the knockouts.

And while he challenged his players to take the 'opportunity' of the situation rather than see it as a 'problem', Guardiola emphatically shut down the idea that City's weekend win over Chelsea means they are turning their pre-Christmas form around.

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"No, not yet. It's only a few games," he replied before moving on, not keen to discuss the matter further, before later adding: "[We must be] completely relaxed, no emotion and understand the game. These type of games you need something special - something that has not been enough this year in the Champions League."

And with that, Guardiola was gone to hammer home that message to his players in their final training session before Wednesday's showdown.

But defender Josko Gvardiol offered a slightly off-script view of City's recent form as he smiled his way through his own press conference.

He told reporters that the PSG defeat last week was difficult as City paid the price for chasing a game-killing third goal before conceding four themselves to lose, and he admitted that 'control' was the better option in hindsight. But he also repeated that he felt the squad's confidence is 'quite good', and the group is 'in a good way'.

He said: "There is still feeling [that the season can be a success]. The season is still long. There are so many games to play. I'd say we should go game by game and try to win the next game.

"It's been difficult but it's part of our sport. We all need to stick together to get out of this together. We're in a good way. Tomorrow is a final for us. We want to qualify for the next stage. Our confidence is quite good, especially after last game. We're at home with support from our fans. We'll be ready tomorrow."

Guardiola may be trying to play down the notion that City's general form is improving, but the players themselves appear keen to stress the positives.

Gvardiol admitted to 'mental' difficulties as PSG scored four unanswered goals in Paris to condemn City to their final-day situation. Perhaps that is why he wants to focus on the good results rather than the bad ones.

Sometimes it isn't necessarily a bad thing for manager and squad to be on different pages going into a game with so much at stake.