Pep Guardiola says Manchester Metropolis qualifying for the Champions League subsequent season feels “like a title”.
The previous Premier League winners rounded off their marketing campaign with a 2-0 win at Fulham on the ultimate day, securing a third-placed end within the course of.
And whereas there was no silverware for the membership, Guardiola was nonetheless delighted along with his facet’s resilience in a tough marketing campaign.
Talking after the match, he stated: “It’s like a title, [because of] the obstacles. Whenever you proceed [a run of poor form] you end tenth, eleventh, twelfth or thirteenth.
That is the future of all of the groups within the Premier League when they’re in November, December or January and you can’t battle for the Premier League, like you have got carried out for a few years.
“Folks can say ‘I don’t wish to battle once more, simply to qualify for the Europa League’. We continued enjoying good and we have been there [in position to seal Champions League qualification] and we did it. On the finish we completed third, not miles away from Arsenal, however the distance to Liverpool is large. We’ve got to enhance and hopefully we will do it.”
PEP 💬 We by no means gave up. It’s powerful, particularly the gamers even within the unimaginable difficulties have been there, and ending third is good.
It’s not good however we’ll be in Europe subsequent season within the Champions League. As we speak, folks perhaps don’t imagine me however it’s a contented day for all… pic.twitter.com/NAQvWsR4Lt
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) Might 25, 2025
Whereas striker Erling Haaland wouldn’t go so far as to explain it as being like a title, he additionally performed up the significance of being within the Champions League subsequent time period.
He added: “This membership has to play within the Champions League, I’ve to play within the Champions League, Pep has to handle the staff within the Champions League, so it’s vital and we’re relieved now to be there as a result of it’s been a tough and tough season. We’re actually joyful.
“We got here again after a extremely tough interval and we’ve been working by means of it collectively. It’s not been simple however we’ve proven nice character. Ultimately we’ve come third and we’re relieved, we’re actually joyful. We’re targeted on going into the Membership World Cup in good condition and to assault that.
“I imply, you can’t win it yearly. No-one ever gained it 4 years in a row. Now we got here third, however Metropolis have gained [the league in] six out of eight years. If I used to be a Metropolis fan – which I’m – I’m not complaining. I want we gained it this yr as nicely however you can’t win yearly. Subsequent yr we’re going to do all the pieces we will to make it a significantly better season.”