Guardiola: City qualifying for Champions League a “big success”
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said that qualifying for the Champions League would make his team’s season “a big success.”
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City qualifying for Champions League a “big success”
City, who have won four straight titles, are fifth in the Premier League table with 10 games remaining.
Guardiola has had to contend with several injuries to key players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who has been sidelined since September.
Given the challenges the team has faced, the City boss believes that securing Champions League qualification would be a huge achievement.
“Qualification for the Champions League would be a big success but you have to win it,” Guardiola said.
“I want to qualify for the Champions League. It will not be good [if City miss out] but I saw what happened with other teams in the past in the Premier League.
“Not being in the Champions League would be a problem but there are teams who didn’t qualify who have come back and are there.”
Not resting their laurels
City could finish fifth and still qualify for the Champions League.
The strong performances of English clubs in UEFA competitions mean the Premier League is on course to receive an extra Champions League spot.
This gives City a chance to qualify, but Guardiola said it won’t matter unless his team can build a winning run between now and the end of the season.
“Whether there are five or six or seven [places], you have to win games,” he said.
“In sport, in knockout games sometimes details make the difference but in the Premier League over 38 games if you are not able to finish in the first four or five it is because we were not good enough.”
City’s next match is against sixth-placed Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
