Pep Guardiola has said he doesn't think Manchester City can win the Champions League this season after they scraped into the play-off round to book a tie against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
City had to come from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to finish 22nd in the league phase table.
It sets up a play-off in February against either Madrid or Bayern, who finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
Asked afterwards whether he could see City winning the competition this season, Guardiola said: "Right now, no."
However, the City boss added that by the time he comes up against either of the European giants, his team might be in a better place.
"I'm so pragmatic," he said.
"They have more experience than us and Madrid have been back in the last games and Bayern have had an incredible season with Vinnie [Kompany].
"If you had to play tomorrow it would be difficult but in two weeks I don't know the position we will be in and the players. The players in the locker room said Bayern or Real -- it's OK, we will be fit and see what happens."
City qualified for the play-offs despite winning just three games in the league phase against Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague and Club Brugge.
Madrid are top of LaLiga while Bayern top the Bundesliga.
"You might say it's impossible today but tomorrow the mindset or vibes change," Guardiola said.
"I'm pretty sure we will create problems for Bayern or Real because the players have something special. We are going to play against one of these two giants and we will see what happens."
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Guardiola insisted he was confident of beating Club Brugge. But with the Belgian side leading 1-0 at half-time, City were heading out. And Guardiola admitted he was left thinking that a fire which started outside the stadium before kick-off had perhaps been an ominous sign.
"When I saw the fire before the game, I thought at half-time journalists had their headline already," he joked.
"We were out. When you play with nothing to lose we go through and go forward."