Manchester Metropolis head coach Pep Guardiola mentioned on Monday that he was “completely” assured his facet can seal one of many prime 5 spots within the Premier League that may assure them Champions League soccer for subsequent season.
Whereas the Premier League title has been long-wrapped up by Liverpool, and Arsenal assured themselves a top-five end on Sunday, the race to safe the opposite three remaining locations is extensive open.
Newcastle United, Chelsea and Aston Villa all have 66 factors after 37 matches, whereas Metropolis are sixth with 65 and have a sport in hand over the three golf equipment.
The final time Metropolis did not qualify for Europe’s elite membership competitors was within the 2009-10 season.
“If we aren’t there [Champions League] then we do not deserve it and will likely be within the Europa League. It’s what it’s,” Guardiola instructed reporters forward of Tuesday’s residence sport towards Eleventh-placed Bournemouth.
“I’m pondering we’re going to qualify. My ideas and the best way I feel — I feel that. We’d like 4 factors. That’s the foremost goal. I’m completely [confident of qualifying].”
Metropolis want to get better from Saturday’s shock 1-0 FA Cup ultimate loss towards Crystal Palace.
“We performed a extremely good ultimate, not sufficient to win it. And we’ve got the final two video games, we want 4 factors to subsequent yr to be within the Champions League. That is sufficient, and everybody has to concentrate on that,” Guardiola mentioned.
“Newcastle received the Carabao Cup, Liverpool received the Premier League and Metropolis received the Neighborhood Defend. The opposite groups did not win something,” the Spaniard added.
Metropolis’s sport towards Bournemouth will likely be their ultimate residence fixture of the season, with the membership taking a visit to Tenth-placed Fulham for the final Premier League spherical on Sunday.
The match towards Bournemouth will even mark Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s final residence sport for Metropolis, with the 33-year-old having introduced that he’ll go away the membership on the finish of the season after 10 profitable years.
“We wish to win the sport so we are able to qualify for the Champions League subsequent season – that is what Kevin needs, it could not be in any other case,” Guardiola mentioned.
“I’m going to resolve what’s the greatest for us to win the sport towards Bournemouth, that’s for certain. Kevin will get what he deserves, and what he deserves is one of the best second and one of the best praise for his unbelievable trajectory.”
