Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remains hopeful about his team’s Champions League qualification, but acknowledged that a season without European competition could offer some relief to his fatigued squad.
On Saturday, Nottingham Forest defeated the Premier League champions 1-0, handing City their ninth league loss of the season, which equals the most losses Guardiola has experienced in his tenure at the club. This tally also marks the joint-highest number of league defeats across his entire managerial career.
A scrappy win for Chelsea over Leicester City on Sunday dropped City to fifth place, with Brighton just one point behind them in sixth. The Premier League’s top five are expected to secure Champions League spots, but Brighton will face City next weekend, adding further pressure.
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“Qualification for the Champions League would be a big success, but you have to earn it,” Guardiola said after the defeat to Forest. “Whether it’s five, six, or seven places, you have to win games.”
While missing out on the Champions League would be a setback, Guardiola pointed to the experiences of other Premier League teams. “Not qualifying would be a problem, but there are teams who didn’t make it and have come back strong. They are back now,” he added.
Historically, clubs like Chelsea have bounced back from missing European football entirely, with their title-winning 2016/17 season following a disastrous 2015/16 campaign. Similarly, Arsenal ended their six-year Champions League drought, and Aston Villa are enjoying their first-ever campaign in the competition.
“How many years has Manchester City been in the Champions League? Over ten, maybe more,” Guardiola noted. “Before that, they never played in it. We’re used to doing exceptional things, and we have to continue striving for that. But we wake up every day and aim to finish the season well and improve next season.”
Guardiola also emphasized the difference between knockout competitions and the Premier League: “In knockout games, details can make the difference, but in the Premier League, if you’re not in the top four or five after 38 games, it’s because we weren’t good enough. We still have ten games, it’s in our hands, and we will keep fighting.”
Guardiola, who has never failed to qualify for the Champions League since taking charge of Barcelona in 2008, is currently experiencing the worst results of his managerial career. City’s current goal difference of just 15 is the lowest in any season under Guardiola, marking a significant drop from the 41+ goal difference seen in previous seasons.
