Pep Guardiola has made a stunning admission about Manchester City’s campaign, echoing a sentiment previously expressed by Jose Mourinho.
Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City face a battle to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
The City manager believes that achieving Champions League qualification this season would be as significant an achievement as any trophy he has won at the club.
Guardiola’s comments come as City prepare for a crucial run of fixtures. They face Chelsea this weekend before taking on each of the other top-six teams in their next six Premier League games.
Pep Guardiola has been criticised for Man City’s Champions League loss at PSG (Credit: Imago)
The Cityzens also have a must-win Champions League clash with Club Brugge next week after Wednesday’s collapse at Paris Saint-Germain.
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What Guardiola said
Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, highlighting the impact of injuries on his squad.
He drew comparisons with Jose Mourinho’s comments in 2018 when the then-Manchester United manager described finishing second to Guardiola’s City as his greatest achievement.
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola when the Portuguese manager was at Manchester United (Credit: Imago)
“I remember Jose, I don’t know the reality of United, but he said many times finishing second in that season was the biggest success,” said the Spaniard. “I understand completely. When Rodri is here, when also defenders are here, when many players are out there playing, we will fight.
“Sometimes you have these situations and when you live these situations, of course, it is the bigger success [a top four finish]. I think the hierarchy, the sports director, the CEOs, the players know that.
“Because sometimes life gives you circumstances. Ruben [Dias] is never injured. And now, play one or two games, he’s injured. Nathan [Ake] and John [Stones] cannot be sustained, like in the year of the Treble when John played all the games. Now he can’t.
“Now we didn’t have it this season. And now, with the new players and everyone, and still with that, recover and now change the momentum in our minds, that we can do it.”
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Manchester City will host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium.
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Maresca has declared support for his former boss, Pep Guardiola, over City’s struggling.
What next for Man City?
Guardiola’s men could return to the Premier League top four if they beat Chelsea in Saturday’s top-flight clash at the Etihad Stadium.
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