Guardiola apologizes for self-harm quote, Amorim seeks first United win

Champions League drama: Guardiola clarifies comments, Madrid struggles, Mbappé under fire. Europa/Conference League sees Chelsea, Man Utd in action.

Carlo Ancelotti insists Kylian Mbappe will come good for Real Madrid but confirms the embattled Frenchman is under intense pressure and lacks confidence. (Photo credit: BBC)

There are lots of talking points to unpack from the Champions League games played on Tuesday and Wednesday. With Real Madrid losing their chokehold on Liverpool and Manchester City hitting new lows, we also have Europa and Conference League fixtures on Thursday. Let’s dissect some of them.

Guardiola apologizes for the "self-harm" comment.

Pep Guardiola casually told newsmen on Tuesday that the injuries on his face were caused by him scratching his face when Manchester City was struggling on the pitch, but the Spaniard has come out to rubbish any talks of self-harm, saying he doesn't mean to disrespect the sensitive topic.

On Tuesday, Manchester City held a 3-0 lead over Feyernoord until the final quarter, but managed to level the score with a draw just before the 90th minute. City has now gone six games without a win, losing five of its last six.

Mbappé is facing a confidence crisis—Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has defended Kylian Mbappe after the Frenchman missed a penalty in yet another Champions League loss on Wednesday.

Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 2-0, yet their performance fell short due to numerous missed passes and inadequate responsibility during possession. Eduardo Camavinga limped off injured in the game, adding to a growing list of injured players for the Los Blancos. Is there a crisis there too?

The Giants are struggling to impress in the new Champions League format.

Champions League holders Real Madrid, currently ranked 24th on the log, faces a significant risk of missing out on automatic qualification; PSG, another prominent team, appears to be struggling on the log.

Manchester City lies in 17th, and their next opponent is Juventus, who currently lies in 19th, with both sides needing to win their remaining three games to stand any chance of making it into the top 8 or getting to play two extra games in February.

Amorim’s fresh date with fate

Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt lies in wait for Manchester United as Ruben Amorim seeks his first win as the new boss of the Premier League side.

After witnessing his player struggle to handle the intensity of Ipswich on his league debut, Amorim expressed concerns about their lack of desire and guts. He expects many of his players to step up, and he hopes to see changes when they face the Norwegian side.

Chelsea hopes to keep momentum going.

Chelsea will be away to Heidenheim on Thursday as they continue their impressive run under new manager Enzo Maresca.

With just two more wins, the Blues can secure their spot in the Europa Conference League's last 16, while simultaneously monitoring their Premier League performance. They will face troubled Aston Villa at the Stamford Bridge Stadium on Sunday.