Manchester Metropolis defender Manuel Akanji says his aspect can “beat each group in Europe” after qualifying for the Champions League play-off spherical.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect survived a scare on Wednesday and arrange a knockout tie towards both Bayern Munich or Actual Madrid.
Defeat would have meant a shock elimination for Metropolis and Switzerland defender Akanji, 29, says the membership are “comfortable we made it to the play-offs”.
“Clearly we want we might have made it to the highest eight however we could not change it,” stated Akanji.
“[Bayern and Real] are usually not the groups you wish to face however whoever it’s we’re wanting ahead to the problem and I feel we are able to beat each group in Europe.”
Metropolis’s kind has been inconsistent this season in comparison with the excessive requirements they’ve set in current campaigns.
They let a three-goal lead slip in a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in November and misplaced 4-2 to Paris St-Germain earlier this month regardless of having been 2-0 up.
Earlier defeats by Sporting and Juventus left the membership needing victory towards Membership Brugge to progress to the following stage.
“Clearly we had a few outcomes that had been approach beneath our expectations, so we needed to win to get into the following spherical,” Akanji stated.
“That wasn’t the best way that we needed it to be however right here we’re proper now and I am nonetheless assured we are able to beat whoever comes subsequent.”
The draw for the knockout part play-offs takes place on Friday, 31 January at 11:00 GMT.
Groups already know which sides they’ve a 50-50 likelihood of assembly due to their ultimate positions within the league part.
One among Celtic and Metropolis will play reigning champions Actual, with the opposite taking up fellow giants Bayern.
Groups additionally know the 2 potential golf equipment they may face within the final 16 in the event that they progress by means of the play-offs.
The winner of the ties involving Metropolis and Celtic will tackle both Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen within the final 16.