Pep Guardiola said he was more than satisfied with the resilience and focus of his players as City secured a hard-earned point from Tuesday’s goalless Champions League draw away at FC Copenhagen and so reach the last-16.

With Sergio Gomez receiving a straight red card on the half hour for a foul after a VAR call, it meant City had to play for 60 minutes with just 10 men in a game that also saw a Rodri strike disallowed by VAR and City see a first half Riyad Mahrez penalty saved after yet another VAR call.

But a solid professional display at the Parken Stadium moved us to within touching distance of the Champions League knockout stages

And our place in the last-16 was then secured when Sevilla failed to beat Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday evening’s other Group G game, the pair drawing 1-1.

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Coming in the midst of a hectic schedule – and with Sunday’s huge Premier League trip to Liverpool looming large on the horizon – the boss expressed his satisfaction with our showing in Denmark.

“(I am) Really satisfied - playing one hour 10 v 11 in Europe and not losing is really good,” Guardiola reflected.

“We are going to recover, prepare for the next games, go to Dortmund and try to get results there and against Sevilla, to finish first in the group stage.

SAVED: Riyad Mahrez's first half penalty was denied by the FC Copenhagen keeper
SAVED: Riyad Mahrez's first half penalty was denied by the FC Copenhagen keeper

“After the situations - goal disallowed, penalties, sending off - the game changed and especially playing 10 against 11 for an hour is so difficult but we didn’t concede much.

“But the players gave absolutely everything - and, yeah, it’s a good point and we take it.”

With City playing in the earlier kick-off on Tuesday it meant the squad could fly straight back to Manchester and then begin preparations for that Liverpool encounter.

And he said there would also be opportunity for his squad to rest both their bodies and minds after what has been an intense 10 days.

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“It is the schedule, they tell me we have to go to Anfield. I am so satisfied, yes, but it is not about how good or bad, you have to perform every time,” Guardiola added when asked if City were in a good moment ahead of the weekend.

“We travel right now, tomorrow regeneration, one day off to clean our mind because for two weeks we didn’t have one day off.

“And then we have a few days to prepare for the game against Liverpool.”