Pep Guardiola Anticipates Tight Race for UCL Spots

Synopsis

Pep Guardiola expresses his excitement over the Premier League's five Champions League slots for next season, anticipating a fierce competition for qualification that will go down to the wire. He acknowledges injuries as challenges and praises the formidable test posed by Crystal Palace.

Key Takeaways

Premier League to have five Champions League spots next season.
Guardiola expects a close race for qualification.
Injuries are viewed as challenges by Guardiola.
Crystal Palace presents a stern test at the Etihad.
Guardiola remains optimistic about finishing the season strong.

Manchester, April 11 (NationPress) Pep Guardiola is excited that the Premier League will have five places in the Champions League next season and anticipates that the competition for qualification will extend until the very end.

The additional European Performance Spot for 2025/26 was activated thanks to Arsenal’s triumph over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UCL quarter-final. Guardiola’s City currently sits in sixth position, trailing Newcastle United by one point and having played one match more than them.

The City manager believes that the race will be tight given the number of teams competing for a spot in the prestigious European tournament.

“It is indeed better to have five teams instead of four. There are around seven or eight contenders. This is the current situation, and it will likely go down to the last moment,” stated Guardiola in the press conference before the match against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Defenders Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Nathan Ake have all been sidelined recently, along with striker Erling Haaland and long-term injured player Rodri. However, the Spaniard views these injuries as tests rather than setbacks.

When asked about the possibility of any of these players returning to face the Eagles, Guardiola responded, “[They are] still injured, yes, still injured—we’ll see. Injuries have occurred all season; we adapt.”

“You can consider it a problem or a challenge; the situation could be worse. I’m pleased with how we’ve managed the circumstances and our current standing,” he added.

Guardiola has faced two defeats against Palace at home during his tenure, along with two draws and four wins. The Eagles are known for providing a tough challenge at the Etihad, and Guardiola does not expect anything less.

“Tomorrow, we face a team that has been in incredible form over the last month or two. It’s always challenging with Palace here; I respect the manager and their style of play, as well as the talent and physicality—they are undoubtedly strong. Yet, we must remain optimistic to finish this season on a high note,” he concluded.