Esteemed Kompany
ยท14 Maret 2025
Pep Guardiola is relishing the fight to secure Champions League football now his players must lift

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Yahoo sportsEsteemed Kompany
ยท14 Maret 2025
Although the 24/25 season has been a disappointment for Manchester City there is still plenty for Pep Guardiolaโs side to play for. City have made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and a testing tie against Bournemouth awaits Manchester City. They are also in a battle to secure Champions League football for next season. Speaking ahead of his teamโs must-win Premier League fixture against an in-form Brighton Pep Guardiola is relishing the fight his team is in. Now itโs up to his players to follow his lead.
Pep Guardiola spoke of the battle his team is in to qualify for next seasonโs Champions League. He explained: โItโs a big fight and not like a disappointment to be here, itโs a challenge in that if weโre able to achieve that and qualify for the Champions League, itโd be a huge success from my point of view. For many things happen, it would be a huge success. I donโt have it like โoh weโre playing for thatโ itโs completely the opposite. Sometimes there are seasons in life and in sport where you have to live that.โ
โItโs in our hands, it depends on us. We donโt have to recover eight or ten points to go there and wait for the opponent to lose many games, itโs just about us and depends on our behaviours and our football if weโre there or not. We have to reach the best level to qualify for Europe next season, definitely, we have to be consistent as much as possible.โ
Despite Manchester Cityโs poor season Pep Guardiola has constantly been up for the challenge. You could say the same about the City players, although the quality hasnโt been there often enough to match that fight. Heading into Saturdayโs must-win clash against Brighton the City players have to match the fight of their manager. If they can do that and raise their performance it may set them up for tomorrowโs match at the Etihad and for the run home.
It would be a disaster if Manchester City missed out on qualification for next seasonโs Champions League. But if they do miss out it will be because they donโt deserve to qualify for Europeโs most prestigious club competition. So the challenge is there for Pep Guardiolaโs side to earn the right to participate in next seasonโs Champions League. That begins tomorrow against Brighton in what looms as a crucial game for both teams. If the City players can match the fight of Pep Guardiola and bring the quality of performance they are capable of it should set them up for what lies ahead. If the quality and fight arenโt there, then Manchester City will likely miss out on what is a base minimum requirement for this season for Pep Guardiolaโs side.
There is no doubt that Pep Guardiola is up for the challenge that lies ahead of his team. Now, his players must match their managerโs fight and determination. That factor may be key in Manchester Cityโs efforts to get something out of a difficult season. It will be interesting to see if that is there in tomorrowโs Premier League fixture at the Etihad against an in-form Brighton.