First-half goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki saw off the Turkish side at the Etihad Stadium, helping us claim eighth spot in the League Phase of the competition and a place in the last-16.
The win, along with several other results going in our favour, means we skip the last-16 play-off round.
GALLERY: DEADLY DUO DOWN GALATASARAY!
Bernardo believes achieving the top-eight finish is hugely significant, especially with City still fighting for silverware across four competitions and with an already hectic fixture schedule.
“We are happy, just very happy because we wanted to qualify in the top eight,” he said after the game. “With a bit of drama, we did it.
“Overall very happy because we avoid two games. With the schedule it’s really important to do that. We need also to recover some players to arrive in the last months of the season.
“With the schedule, with the amount of injuries we have at the minute, to have those two full weeks to prepare the team, to recover some players, to focus on other competitions for now is going to be really good.
“We’re quite used to the manager playing in different ways so depending on our opponent we always try to find the best way to hurt them. Today we were quite good.”
Cherki was named Player of the Match after another masterful display and skipper Bernardo reserved special praise for the French maestro, as well as for former City favourites Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane, who both started for Galatasaray on their return to the Etihad.
“He’s [Cherki] a special talent in terms of how much he can create in the final third especially. He’s young, willing to learn and a good kid so we’re happy to have him with us.
“Gundo and Leroy [Sane] are like brothers because the memories we have together are truly special. It’s always nice to see these guys.
“It’s nice to have them here at home. It’s their place a little even if they already left and I hope they feel that way as well.”
