Champions League qualification is so important - Pep | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola said qualifying for the Champions League is hugely important, even if the achievement won’t go into the record books.

Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night kept us in the fourth and final spot for Europe’s top competition.

We also closed the gap to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest immediately above us with six points separating third and 10th.

City are aiming to qualify for the Champions League for a 15th successive season and Guardiola says our rivals are desperate to claim a spot in the tournament.

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“Qualification for Champions League would be really good for the club,” he said ahead of our FA Cup clash with Plymouth Argyle.

“It will not be in the record books, when you see the numbers it always depends on how much silverware you lift.

“For the club, for the future, for the new players, for the old players, for everyone, being in the Champions League is massively important.

“When you talk about that you can talk about Forest, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton - it’s really important.”

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We will have the chance to leapfrog above Forest when we travel to the City Ground next week but this weekend the focus will be on the FA Cup.

Championship side Plymouth are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday for a 17:45 (UK) kick-off.

The Pilgrims have already knocked out Premier League sides Brentford and Liverpool on the way to the fifth round.

Guardiola is certainly not taking anything for granted and wouldn’t discuss trying to lift the FA Cup for a third time.

“[It’s far away],” he added. “Ask me if we’re in the final.”

City beat Leyton Orient in the previous round in a tricky tie with Jack Grealish impressing.

But it’s been a frustrating season for the England winger due to injury and Pep says he is in consideration for Plymouth.

“Jack played really good at Orient then we had to play against Real Madrid,” the boss said. “Madrid is not a friendly game. After 20 minutes he was out injured. That happened this season.

“When you see Jeremy [Doku] or Savinho now in that position, it was obvious they have to play. The reason why he didn’t play much is because he was not able. He had the niggles and problems.

“Tomorrow I don’t know if he will be ready to play in a game where you have to be there. This is the question.

“No question mark about his quality, never ever doubt the quality Jack has. He cannot play three games in a row.

“He played good against Nottingham [Forest] and after he was injured in a training session again. Not big issues but he cannot make a sustained effort to sprint again, again and again.”