Manchester City’s fight for a Champions League spot continues with a must-win clash against a struggling Leicester City side at the Etihad. A win is non-negotiable.
Pep Guardiola’s side enters this match on the back of an FA Cup comeback victory over Bournemouth. It was far from vintage City, but the introduction of Nico O’Reilly changed everything. The academy star provided assists for both Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush, securing their place in yet another Wembley semi-final.
Consistency, however, has been elusive in the league. March was a frustrating month, with defeats to Nottingham Forest and a disappointing home draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. A team once unbeatable at the Etihad has collected just one point from their last two home league games. That cannot continue.
Guardiola is well aware of the stakes. “We have to win our home games if we are to qualify for Europe’s top competition,” he said. “We desperately need the fans from minute one. I know how tough Leicester is going to be.”
Tough, but beatable. Leicester’s return to the top flight has been disastrous. A run of six straight league defeats without a goal has all but confirmed their drop back to the Championship. Their defence has been a shambles, conceding 16 goals in that period and an astonishing 35 in 14 away matches this season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men arrive at the Etihad with nothing to lose. They stunned Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-0 win in January, but their form since has been abysmal. The gap between the top 17 clubs and the rest of the league has never looked wider.
City, though, face their own challenges. Haaland’s injury is a huge blow. Guardiola admitted there is no replacement for the Norwegian’s unique skill set, saying, “We don’t have another player with his qualities. His numbers have been exceptional, and he is our incredible threat.”
Still, City have no excuses. The FA Cup win showed their resilience, but that must now translate to league form. Guardiola knows how these seasons go. “In previous years, we have done it,” he said of his side’s famous unbeaten runs. “But this season, we have not been consistent.”
That needs to change now. The battle for the top four is too tight to drop points, especially at home. A response is expected. Anything less would be unacceptable.
