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 against Bournemouth awaits Manchester City. They are also in a battle to secure Champions League football for next season. Speaking ahead of his team’s must-win Premier League fixture against an in-form Brighton Pep Guardiola is relishing the fight his team is in. Now it’s up to his players to follow his lead.
Pep Guardiola spoke of the battle his team is in to qualify for next season’s Champions League. He explained: “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. For many things happen, it would be a huge success. I don’t have it like ‘oh we’re playing for that’ it’s completely the opposite. Sometimes there are seasons in life and in sport where you have to live that.”
“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. We have to reach the best level to qualify for Europe next season, definitely, we have to be consistent as much as possible.”
The Manchester City players now have to match the fight of Pep Guardiola to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
Despite Manchester City’s poor season Pep Guardiola has constantly been up for the challenge. You could say the same about the City players, although the quality hasn’t been there often enough to match that fight. Heading into Saturday’s must-win clash against Brighton the City players have to match the fight of their manager. If they can do that and raise their performance it may set them up for tomorrow’s match at the Etihad and for the run home.
It would be a disaster if Manchester City missed out on qualification for next season’s Champions League. But if they do miss out it will be because they don’t deserve to qualify for Europe’s most prestigious club competition. So the challenge is there for Pep Guardiola’s side to earn the right to participate in next season’s Champions League. That begins tomorrow against Brighton in what looms as a crucial game for both teams. If the City players can match the fight of Pep Guardiola and bring the quality of performance they are capable of it should set them up for what lies ahead. If the quality and fight aren’t there, then Manchester City will likely miss out on what is a base minimum requirement for this season for Pep Guardiola’s side.
There is no doubt that Pep Guardiola is up for the challenge that lies ahead of his team. Now, his players must match their manager’s fight and determination. That factor may be key in Manchester City’s efforts to get something out of a difficult season. It will be interesting to see if that is there in tomorrow’s Premier League fixture at the Etihad against an in-form Brighton.
-
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 -
Guardiola relishing 'big fight' for Champions League qualification
Pep Guardiola said he is not deflated at having to battle for a place in next season's Champions League and believes doing so would be a "huge success" in a difficult season for Manchester ...Yahoo Sports - 15h -
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 - 4d -
Pep Guardiola fires back at Capello’s jibe about making football boring
‘It’s not the first time he’s said that’ Capello said Guardiola ruined Italian football Pep Guardiola has responded sarcastically to Fabio Capello’s claim that he is arrogant, has “ruined ...The Guardian - 7h -
Brighton eye historic double over Man City: Guardiola’s side under pressure in race for Champions League
Manchester City are running out of time to secure Champions League football, but the path is anything but straightforward.Last weekend’s defeat at Nottingham Forest was another reminder of how ...Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Guardiola laughs off Capello calling him 'arrogant'
Pep Guardiola has laughed off criticism from Fabio Capello after the former England manager accused the Manchester City boss of ruining Italian football.ESPN - 1h -
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 - 7h -
'Be careful': Guardiola gives his response to Capello's 'arrogant' comment amid Man City decline
Pep Guardiola offered a warning then a “big hug” to Fabio Capello in response to the Italian’s comments that the Manchester City manager is arrogant and “ruined” the game in Italy because of his ...Yahoo Sports - 16h -
Guardiola hits back at Capello over 'arrogant' jibe
Pep Guardiola has slammed Fabio Capello's claim that he is "arrogant" by insisting Manchester City's success in his reign has raised standards in the Premier League."Naming one of the big managers, ...Yahoo Sports - 7h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Degenhart and Boise State knock off top-seed New Mexico in MWC Tournament semifinals 72-69
Tyson Degenhart led No. 5 seed Boise State with 22 points and Andrew Meadow sealed the victory with a 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining as the Broncos upset top-seeded New Mexico 72-69 on Friday ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Revealed: Arsenal & Liverpool want €50m winger, he’s open to transfer this summer
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen on the potential transfer of Lyon wonderkid winger Malick Fofana this summer.Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed ...Yahoo Sports - 22h -
Duke coach says Cooper Flagg playing in ACC tourney is 'not worth it'
Flagg's sprained ankle looms large for the Blue Devils with March Madness right around the corner. But Jon Scheyer appears to be taking the right approach.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
New York Giants' Paulson Adebo embracing opportunity to be CB1
Paulson Adebo knows the New York Giants brought him in to be their top cornerback and he's fully prepared to embrace that role.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
College hoops live updates: UNC in close one, Arkansas out of SEC tourney
An eventful Thursday started with an ankle injury to Duke star Cooper Kupp. Now, the Tar Heels taking on Wake Forest leads live action. Follow along here.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
Source: Kupp to join Seahawks on 3-year deal
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has reached agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract with the Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.ESPN - 36m -
Thomas ties TPC record after 16-shot turnaround
Despite a bogey on 18, Justin Thomas fired a jaw-dropping 62 that tied the TPC Sawgrass record (Tom Hoge, 2023) and gave him a whopping 16-shot improvement over Thursday's 78.ESPN - 36m -
Sources: NBA looking into OKC sitting 5 starters
The NBA is investigating a March 7 game in which the Thunder rested starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein as well as Cason Wallace.ESPN - 36m -
Cavs win franchise-best 16th straight, top Grizz
Evan Mobley had 22 points, Darius Garland added 20 and the Cavaliers recorded a franchise-record 16th straight victory with a 133-124 win over the Grizzlies on Friday night.ESPN - 36m -
UNC refuses to blame lane violation for costly loss
The prevailing mantra in the aftermath of UNC's emotional loss to Duke: The Tar Heels had done enough to lose long before a costly lane violation with 4.1 seconds left, and yet this was still a ...ESPN - 36m