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As Manchester City endure a challenging season, head coach Guardiola, who has claimed six PL titles since his arrival on English shores, voiced that if his men could survive the fight and secure their berth in the UCL next year with a top-four finish in…Read More
Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola arrives the bench prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground stadium in Nottingham, England, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he is relishing the fight for the coveted top-four spot in the Premier League, which would guarantee a place in next year’s season of the UEFA Champions League, as the holders have surrendered their title defence on the back of a year that has been sub-par by their lofty standards.
However, Guardiola, who has claimed six PL titles since his arrival on English shores, voiced that if his men could survive the fight and secure their berth in the elite European competition next season, it would be a success in his books.
“It’s a big fight and not like a disappointment to be here. It’s a challenge in that if we’re able to achieve that and qualify for the Champions League, it’d be a huge success from my point of view,” Guardiola said.
“Sometimes there are seasons in life and in sport where you have to live that,” the Spanish genius stated.
“It’s in our hands, it depends on us. We don’t have to recover eight or ten points to go there and wait for the opponent to lose many games, it’s just about us and depends on our behaviours and our football if we’re there or not,” he added.
Man City were shown the exit door in the ongoing campaign of the UCL in the Ro16 playoff by holders Real Madrd in resounding fashion and Guardiola opined that the English side did not merit to go through in the continental contest this season and added that he would fight for a better showing if they were to be part of the subsequent edition of the illustrious tournament.
“I don’t have any disappointment and regret, we don’t deserve to be there,” added Guardiola on watching the best of the action form afar this midweek,” Guardiola expressed.
“Nobody has to explain me how special is this competition but in this season we deserve to be on the sofa with a glass of wine.”
“Hopefully we can do better, qualify for next season and do it better to be there on the pitch,” the Spaniard added.
City take on Brighton, who are just a point behind Guardiola’s unit and very much in contention for a top-4 finish, and the Catalan gaffer lauded the Seagulls’ efforts to mount a substantial challenge at the top of the league.
“I think Brighton are one of the best clubs working on and off the pitch,” the 54-year-old said.
“There are many teams who were in the middle positions or bottom or whatever, but they make an incredible step up in terms of organisation and consistency for many years, that’s the reality,” he continued.
“It’s not a secret what they’ve been doing. They’re in this position because they’re doing good things, they deserve to be (where they are) in the table,” the City boss concluded.
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