Pep: City have nine Premier League finals left

Pep Guardiola says the battle to secure Champions League qualification could go down to the wire in the wake of City’s 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Brighton.

The reigning champions twice led at the Etihad, firstly through an Erling Haaland penalty and then a superb strike from Omar Marmoush.

However, an Abdukodir Khusanov own goal early after the second half restart alied to an earlier Pervis Estupinan free-kick meant that the points were shared.

The result, in what was the last game before the March international break, left City in fifth place in the table on 48 points from 29 games.

And reflecting on both the result and the performance afterwards, the Blues boss said he felt the battle to secure a top-four position and with it guaranteed Champions League qualification, could go all the way, adding that City had ‘nine finals’ left to navigate.

“Nine games, nine finals. It looks like it [will go down to the last day],” Guardiola reflected.

“Nine games still until the end of the season. We have tough games.

SPOT ON: Erling Haaland celebrates firing City ahead from the penalty spot.

“It was quite similar to Nottingham Forest. Okay, we didn’t lose. The goal was not good enough but it will be [tight] until the end.

“Next game Leicester here and then Old Trafford but first Bournemouth in the FA Cup.”

Reflecting on the display itself, the boss said he was more than pleased with many aspects of today's display.

Marmoush’s brilliant second half finish rounded off what was a fine all-round performance by the Egyptian.

Meanwhile, Haaland’s penalty saw him become the fastest player in Premier League history to register 100 goals or assists, the Norwegian achieving the feat in just 94 games, six quicker than previous record holder Alan Shearer.

“The performance was much, much, much better than the Nottingham Forest game. We make good moments. We had two goals in the first half and clear chances with Savinho,” Pep added.

“They are so good and they link inside and have pace with Mitoma and Minteh. In duels with Baleba and Gomez they are really good.

TWO GOOD: Omar Marmoush wheels away after firing City back in front.

“Jeremy was incredible threat and Omar played really well with the goal and the assist. Ruben was fantastic with Kusa and in general it was good.

“We started the second half 2-1 up and had a good chance. In the corner we were sloppy and they equalised then we were unstable. That is normal.

“We came back in the game and had really good moments.

“They had one clear chance then but we were there and we pushed until the end.

“We’ll take the point.”

Topics

Pep Guardiola is relishing the fight to secure Champions League football now his players must lift

Although the 24/25 season has been a disappointment for Manchester City there is still plenty for Pep Guardiola’s side to play for. City have made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and a testing tie ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola handed major Oscar Bobb boost ahead Premier League and FA Cup run-in

Oscar Bobb featured in an EDS fixture earlier this week in a major availability boost to the Manchester City first-team, Pep Guardiola has said.Bobb suffered a leg bone fracture in the days that ...
Yahoo Sports - 14h
Pep after loss: City's UCL spot won't fall from sky

Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that they have to earn a place in the Champions League and that it won't "come from the sky."
ESPN - 6d
UCL dream is on: Forest beat City to make major statement

The defending English champions have now lost nine times in 28 Premier League games.
ESPN - Mar. 8
Manchester City vs Brighton – Match preview and team news

Manchester City welcome a high-flying Brighton to the Etihad Stadium this weekend.The Premier League champions have the opportunity to break into the top four with a win this afternoon. Pep ...
Yahoo Sports - 15h
Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League)

After another full week off from action, Pep Guardiola’s men return to the Etihad Stadium this weekend to face an in-form Brighton & Hove Albion.The Premier League champions produced a somewhat ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
City's new goal: Pep says top four a 'success'

Pep Guardiola has said that qualifying for the Champions League would make Manchester City's season "a big success."
ESPN - 5d
Champions League qualification is the only positive Man City have left -- and they might miss it

Man City's awful season could end with one positive: qualification for next season's Champions League. But they are playing so poorly, they might not even get there.
ESPN - 1h
How to watch Leicester City vs Man Utd: TV channel and live stream for Premier League game

Manchester United travel to the King Power Stadium for Sunday’s late Premier League kick-off against Leicester City.The Red Devils progressed to the quarter-final stage of the Europa League on ...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Premier League promotion by season: History of promoted clubs, playoff final

Here's a list of the clubs promoted to the Premier League since the naming of the division, plus all of the playoff finals since they began following the 1986-87 season.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Have Manchester City suffered an injury blow ahead of pivotal Brighton clash?

Manchester City take on high-flying Brighton today in a pivotal Premier League fixture for both teams. Both teams are in the race to secure Champions League football for next season. Today’s match ...
Yahoo Sports - 23h
Valiant City edged out in League Cup final

Manchester City’s gutsy League Cup final display proved to be in vain as we were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea.Mayra Ramirez grabbed the opener inside eight minutes when she bundled home Chelsea’s first r...
Yahoo Sports - 9h
Man City sack Taylor five days before cup final

Manchester City women have sacked head coach Gareth Taylor just five days before their League Cup final match against Chelsea, the club confirmed on Monday.
ESPN - 4d
Premier League almost certain to have five teams in 2025-26 Champions League

Italy are closest rivals for a fifth slot England could even have a record seven clubs The Premier League is almost certain to have a fifth team in the Champions League next season, with the ...
The Guardian - 1d
Confirmed Line-Ups: Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League)

Manchester City return to Premier League action with a home clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at the temporarily renamed City in the Community Etihad Stadium.Pep Guardiola and his players know ...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Watch: How two astronauts were left in space for nine months

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been left in space for nearly 10 months and now hope to come back
BBC News - 9h
Jeremy Doku could have had leg broken, rages Pep Guardiola at referee

Pep Guardiola claimed Jeremy Doku could have suffered a broken leg after the Manchester City manager slammed the decision to book his Belgium winger for diving.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
🔴 LIVE: Friday Premier League press conferences: Guardiola up first

Hear from Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Ange Postecoglu & more!2025-03-14T12:19:00ZWelcome to our Friday Premier League Press Conference live blog. We'll keep you up to speed across all of the ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Price beats Littler to win Premier League night six

Gerwyn Price beats Luke Littler 6-3 in the night six final in Nottingham to win his second event in the 2025 Premier League Darts.
BBC News - 2d
Guardiola hits back at Capello's 'arrogant' jibe

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he has "raised the bar" in the Premier League following criticism from ex-England coach Fabio Capello.
BBC News - 1d
Guardiola hits back at Capello's 'arrogant' jibe

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he has "raised the bar" in the Premier League following criticism from ex-England coach Fabio Capello.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Is Chelsea vs Man City on TV? How to watch Women’s League Cup final

The League Cup final kicks off a run of four clashes in just 12 days between Chelsea and Man City
Yahoo Sports - 12h
Nottingham Forest have a Champions League place within their grasp

The last time the club played in Europe’s premier club competition, in 1980, they were the defending champions. By WhoScored . Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday was a ...
The Guardian - 3d
Own goal helps Chelsea to Women’s League Cup final success in Derby

Chelsea have won this season’s Subway Women’s League Cup after they recorded a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Pride Park in Derby this afternoon.Mayra Ramírez’s goal gave The Blues an earl...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Fujino returns for League Cup final

Aoba Fujino is set to return to the starting line-up ahead ahead of City's League Cup final clash with Chelsea.The Japan international had been ruled out of our previous two fixtures with a foot ...
Yahoo Sports - 12h
The starting lineups are in ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Brighton at the Etihad

Manchester City and Brighton have confirmed their starting lineups ahead of today’s pivotal Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium. Today’s match is a crucial encounter in the battle to secu...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Premier League predictions, odds: Week 29 of the 2024-25 season

Week 29 of the Premier League season began weeks ago, when Aston Villa drew Liverpool 2-2 in a match pulled forward due to the Reds' Sunday date with Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium in the ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Man City boss Taylor sacked five days before cup final

Manchester City sack head coach Gareth Taylor just five days before the Women's League Cup final.
BBC News - 5d
Hudson-Odoi floors Manchester City as Forest land Champions League blow

Can we just hear it for Nottingham Forest, please? Sure, Manchester City continued their plummet from Premier League title winners to scrambling for Champions League qualification, but the ...
The Guardian - Mar. 8
Man City’s inconsistency leaves Pep Guardiola with a challenge he’s never faced before

Man City 2-2 Brighton: Abdukodir Khusanov’s own goal meant the teams had to settle for a point leaving the race for Champions League football wide open
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Send your video message to Man City Women ahead of the Subway League Cup final!

Man City Women are gearing up for one of the biggest matches of the season - our Subway League Cup final against Chelsea - and they need your support!We are giving Cityzens the chance to send in ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Chelsea win Women’s League Cup final after own goal denies Manchester City

Women’s League Cup final: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City Ramírez 8, Hasegawa 77og; Fujino 64 It seems as though nothing can stop Sonia Bompastor in English football. Not a change of manager from ...
The Guardian - 9h
Manchester City Women sack head coach Gareth Taylor as Cushing returns

City are fourth in WSL but in Champions League last eight Former manager Nick Cushing named interim manager Manchester City Women have sacked their head coach, Gareth Taylor, just five days ...
The Guardian - 5d
Ramirez gives Chelsea early lead in League Cup final

Mayra Ramirez gives Chelsea the lead against Manchester City in the League Cup final at Pride Park in the eighth minute.
BBC News - 11h
Chelsea edge past Man City to win League Cup

Chelsea edge past Manchester City in the Women's League Cup final to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor and keep their bid for a historic quadruple alive.
BBC News - 9h
Manchester City left outside top four as Khusanov hands Brighton a draw

This showdown of Champions League contenders ended with spoils shared so Manchester City, in fifth place, still lead Brighton, who are seventh, by a point. The draw is a rosy result for Newcastle, ...
The Guardian - 6h
Nottingham Forest beats ailing Man City 1-0 to strengthen chances of Champions League qualification

Nottingham Forest’s improbable bid for Champions League qualification was boosted by a 1-0 win over ailing Manchester City in the Premier League with Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring the goal in the 83rd ...
ABC News - Mar. 8
Pep Guardiola reaction — What did Manchester City boss say after draw vs Brighton?

Man City manager Pep Guardiola saw his side struggle against Brighton on Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Fowler: Reaching League Cup final with this group is ‘special’

Mary Fowler says winning the League Cup with City would feel particularly special given the tight-knit nature of the squad.The bulk of the current City team has remained relatively intact over the ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d