Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has played down the risk of Manchester City failing to qualify for the Champions League as they prepare to face one of their rivals for a top-five spot in the Premier League – but called his club’s position “not ideal”.
Fourth-placed City are a point behind Nottingham Forest immediately above them before heading to the City Ground on Saturday (12.30pm GMT), with Chelsea, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion all within three points of the Cityzens.
“There are many clubs fighting for this target,” reflected Guardiola, adding that “it will not be the end of the world” if City fail to reach the Champions League for the first time since 2010/11.
“Everyone wants to be in the Champions League next season, for many reasons. If it doesn’t happen, it will be because we haven’t been good enough and other teams deserve it.
“In the Premier League, in 38 fixtures, it’s fair enough. We are in a position that is not ideal but is not bad enough. It is in our hands and we are going to fight for that.”
City boss Guardiola: Ola Aina ‘exceptional’
While a top-four finish in the Premier League would guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League, an extra spot looks likely to be awarded to the team finishing fifth because of England’s coefficient points, which are awarded based on how teams from each country perform in European competitions.
One player who will not be able to assist City’s push for qualification is defender Nathan Ake, who Guardiola expects to be out for between 10 and 11 weeks following surgery on a fracture in his left foot sustained during City’s FA Cup fifth round home win over second-tier Plymouth Argyle last Saturday.
The Spaniard had high praise for a player City were linked with earlier this season, calling Forest’s Ola Aina “an exceptional player – a full-back who can play on both sides.”
“They are a physical team in the middle,” Guardiola added. “[Eliot] Andersen is a top player. They have a good goalkeeper [Matz Sels] and experienced defenders.
“The four up front create many things for themselves – [Callum] Hudson[-Odoi], [Anthony] Elanga, [Morgan] Gibbs-White, [Chris] Wood.”
PEP 💬 The impact of [Abdukodir] Khusanov was really good… Vitor [Reis] was really good against Plymouth. Now, some centre-backs from the Academy are coming to play with us. Some of the senior ones may be ready for the Club World Cup. We are unlucky [with injuries] but the Club… pic.twitter.com/Duq5PpRbcq
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 7, 2025
Nottingham Forest vs Man City
Forest lost 3-0 at City on December 4 and ended a two-match losing run with a 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal on February 26.
“When you are third with [11 league] games left, it is because you have done really, really, really well,” observed Guardiola. “It’s impressive, I would say.
“They defend really well – they are really compact and aggressive, and their transitions are really good. [They have] the long balls to Wood.”