Pep Guardiola insists things could be worse for Manchester City – and aimed a subtle dig at fierce rivals Manchester United. The reigning Premier League champions have endured a tricky season under the Spaniard this term.
They have already relinquished their title and are in the thick of a battle to even secure a Champions League position. City currently sit fifth – a place that will be enough this season – albeit with Aston Villa and Chelsea breathing down their necks.
With an FA Cup semi-final to come, Guardiola has refused to get too downbeat by suggesting things could have been even more disappointing. Speaking in a press conference ahead of his side’s key clash against Everton, he said: “Hopefully next season, we can be there, deal with the big clubs in Europe.
“We can challenge them better than we have done this season but what we have done in the latest seven years we were there. Even when we were out, we compete really well.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League. We could be in a much lower position in the Premier League if you had done fewer good things than we have done in these four, five months.
“People say we are fourth now but I say yeah we could be 11th or 12th or 13th or 14th. I don’t have any doubts about that. So I take it like ‘okay, it has not been good but it’s in our hands’
“Of course, Goodison Park and Villa is massively important because it’s just six games and we don’t have much time. I know our qualification path for Etihad. We know the games we have here and one or two games away. We have the first opportunity tomorrow in Liverpool.”
Guardiola’s comments amid troubles across the city at Old Trafford. Man United currently sit 14th in the table having lost 14 of their 32 matches this term, while it is also guaranteed that the Red Devils will endure their worst ever Premier League finish under Ruben Amorim.
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The season has been even more difficult for Tottenham, who sit a place and a point below United ahead of the final six games of the campaign. But both struggling sides still have a chance of securing a Champions League spot over the closing weeks of the campaign.
The winners of the Europa League will seal a spot at Europe’s top table ahead of next season, with both Spurs and United in the semi-finals. Ange Postecoglou’s side will take on Bodo/Glimt, with United set to take on Spanish side Athletic Bilbao.
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