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Pep Guardiola insisted he is not concerned about Manchester City missing out on the Champions League following their dour 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
City had gone into the game with the chance to move into the top four following Chelsea’s stalemate with Brentford earlier on Sunday.
But instead of taking advantage of that opportunity and avenging a 2-1 home loss to United in December in the process, City offered little in an extremely uninspiring derby.
It means City stay fifth for the time being, one point behind Chelsea in fourth. However, they will be leapfrogged by Newcastle United should the EFL Cup winners beat relegation-threatened Leicester City on Monday.
Still, with seven games left to play — their next at home against Crystal Palace on Saturday — Guardiola rejected any suggestion of anxiety about the prospect of City not featuring in Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Asked how concerned he is about that scenario coming to pass, Guardiola said: “Nothing. Right now, nothing; eight games [including the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest], Crystal Palace, we’ll go for it.
“I’d prefer to have 10 more points, five, six or seven games left already qualified, but it is what it is.
“It’s Old Trafford. Always it’s difficult for a derby, so we fought, we were there, and the players gave everything.”
The game was marked by a lack of intensity, with the spectacle a far cry from what this famous fixture has produced in years gone by.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim felt that was reflective of the positions in which the two teams find themselves.
United seemingly set to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time, with the Europa League their only hope of salvaging something from the season and qualifying for the Champions League.
City remain favourites for the FA Cup and will take part in an expanded Club World Cup, which starts in June, but their performances this season have fallen well below their usual standards.
“If you look at the moment of both teams, not fighting for titles, that changes the game completely,” Amorim told Sky Sports.
“The feeling of winning, not being able to lose one point, that feeling is not here. As the coach it’s hard to say that. We need to fight for big things, if we do then the feeling will be completely different.”