Bernardo Silva conceded Manchester City qualified for the Champions League last 16 with "a bit of drama" but highlighted the importance of avoiding the play-offs.

Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki scored the goals as City earned a 2-0 win over Galatasaray, which secured eighth place in the table, ensuring they avoid the play-off round in which they exited the competition last season.

City, whose fate went down to the wire after their shock 3-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt last week, have struggled with injuries in recent weeks, with the likes of John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho and Mateo Kovacic all out.

And Silva believes City will be in a stronger position for the last 16 with the extra time off between matches to welcome players back from injury.

"We are happy, just very happy because we wanted to qualify in the top eight. With a bit of drama, we did it," he told TNT Sports.

"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."

Since the start of December, no Premier League player has more goal involvements in all competitions than Rayan Cherki (11 – five goals, six assists).

And Haaland, who ended a run of nine games without a goal from open play, netted for the 56th time in the Champions League, going level with Ruud van Nistelrooy in joint-eighth place in the all-time standings.

"It's really nice for us because it gives them [Haaland and Cherki] confidence," Silva added. "Hopefully, they can keep scoring, keep going.

"[Cherki's] 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."

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola hit another landmark with the victory over Galatasaray; in what was his 569th game in charge of City in all competitions, he recorded his 400th win, the fewest matches taken to reach that total by a manager in England's top flight.

However, one worry for the Catalan coach will be the fact that Jeremy Doku, who assisted both goals, was forced off injured before half-time.

"He looks injured. The calf. He felt something," Guardiola said of Doku, admitting he is likely to miss the Premier League trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

"Jeremy has had these little problems; his muscles, with the demands, his effort.

"But yeah, hopefully [by] March [in the Champions League], he can be ready to help us because in [Real] Madrid he was exceptional, for example, I remember.

"In Norway [vs Bodo/Glimt], he couldn't play from what everybody knows what happened in Old Trafford. Unfortunately, he's not ready for a few more days."