Guardiola Warns of Champions League Qualification Risks
Click to start listening
Manchester, Dec 26 (NationPress) The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has acknowledged that the club is in jeopardy of not qualifying for a position in the Champions League next season.
The reigning Premier League champions are currently experiencing a challenging phase, having fallen down the league standings and are now approaching the lower end of the playoff qualification spots for the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City is presently in its 14th consecutive year of participation in Europe’s premier club tournament. The only English teams that have recorded longer qualification streaks are Arsenal, who qualified from 1998 to 2017, and Manchester United, who maintained qualification from 1996 to 2014.
City has secured victory in only one of their last eight Premier League matches and currently sits seventh in the standings, trailing Liverpool by 12 points.
Guardiola expressed, 'When I mentioned this earlier, people laughed. They claimed that qualifying for the Champions League isn’t a significant achievement. However, I understand it because it occurs with clubs in this country. They were dominant for numerous years and then faced prolonged periods without qualifying for the Champions League.'
He further stated, 'Manchester City has been a regular in the Champions League for the past years. Now we are indeed at risk.'
City is set to face Everton on Boxing Day, followed by an away game against Leicester on December 29, and will host West Ham on January 4.
When asked if he was concerned about finding a solution to his recent challenges, Guardiola remained confident.
'No. I am very optimistic about that. Naturally, there are uncertainties regarding whether a decision is correct or if we need to adjust our approach, but I am very positive. In the past, we have transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary,' the Catalan coach explained during a pre-match press conference.
'At the season's outset, people began suggesting that City would clinch the Premier League by November. There’s a perception that it’s normal to keep winning, when in fact, it is something extraordinary.'
'Currently, the situation has reversed, making it extraordinary to lose numerous matches. Some of these losses could have been avoided, as we played well enough to earn points. Everything happens for a reason.'
'Even during our victories, I never took it for granted. Each circumstance in life offers new lessons about what could have been improved and what can be enhanced in the future,' he concluded.
