Champions League qualification must be earned by Manchester City as it won’t be given to them | OneFootball

Following their 1-nil loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday Manchester City are now in a fight to secure Champions League qualification for next season. That has loomed as a realistic possibility all season based on how Pep Guardiola’s side has performed. But now the world champions must earn their spot in next season’s Champions League. It isn’t their right to be in the competition they must fight and scrap their way to the results they require to secure Champions League qualification.

Manchester City have been a constant in the Champions League in recent seasons. They won the competition in the 22/23 season on their way to securing the treble. But from there, Pep Guardiola’s side has slipped from their lofty standards. Although they won a fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, there were signs that they were coming back to the back, so to speak. This season has been a battle for Pep Guardiola’s ageing and injury-ravaged squad. The fact that Saturday’s loss to Nottingham Forest was their 15th in their past 30 games in all competitions tells you all you need to know. It is no formality that Manchester City will qualify for next season’s Champions League. They will have to raise their game to finish in the top four or possibly top five to ensure Champions League qualification.

Pep Guardiola knows what the goal is for the remainder of the season for Manchester City and it’s in their hands to achieve it.

Speaking after his team’s defeat to Nottingham Forest Pep Guardiola outlined the goal for his team for the remainder of this season. Securing Champions League qualification is their goal. That goal remains in their own hands despite Saturday’s defeat. Guardiola had this to say following City’s defeat: “Listen, I want to qualify for the Champions League – of course we want to qualify. But the other teams who did not qualify last season have come back and they are there, and how many years have Manchester City been in the Champions League? 10 years? More? Before that, we never played in the Champions League, so of course, we are used to doing exceptional things and of course we have to try to do it. But at the end, of course, we wake up in the morning and try to do a good season next season, we have to continue, but at the end we have to try. Sometimes in the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and other competitions, the circumstances and small details and many things make the difference. But in the Premier League, after 38 games, if we don’t qualify it is because we were not good enough. We still have 10 games, the season is still in our hands, and we are going to try.”

Manchester City will have to up their game to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Despite having been a constant in the competition for the best part of a decade they are in danger of missing out on next season’s competition. That’s the challenge in front of Pep Guardiola’s side and it’s one they must rise to if they are to get anything out of a disappointing season.