Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City won a title on the final day of the Premier League season | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stressed that the outcome of their Premier League season on the final day was like winning a title.

Following a largely underwhelming campaign as a whole, Manchester City were left with one final opportunity to bring some joy to supporters in the final week of the season by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in 2025/26.

A victory in midweek against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium meant that Guardiola’s players needed just one point to cement a top-five finish, while victory would mean they would secure third position despite the difficulties of the campaign.

Goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland wrapped up the three points on an afternoon when Kevin De Bruyne would also make his final-ever appearance for the club by appearing as a late substitute in the game.

And speaking to reporters after Manchester City’s 0-2 win away to Fulham on Sunday afternoon, manager Pep Guardiola glowed with delight at the conclusion of his side’s hugely difficult campaign in the Premier League.

“I will tell you next season if we have learned something, because experiences if you learn is fine otherwise it doesn’t,” Guardiola responded when asked what he will take away in terms of learnings from the tough campaign.

“What can I say? It’s a relief! Because today qualification for the Champions League is like winning a title. It’s a fact,” he added.

“And I know perfectly when you are in January, February you have the feeling that this time you cannot win the Premier League or fight for the Premier League, there will be a tendency, the simple like the players say, ‘Okay, I don’t play for the Premier League, I don’t fight anymore’.

“And in that moment it’s happened in this country many, many times; the winner of the Premier League not even qualifies for the Champions League. We could have finished 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and you said to me it’s not true. It’s true!”

Guardiola continued, “And we never gave up, me the first, the staff, and especially the players that even in the incredible difficulties we go there and go there, and finishing third is really nice.

“It’s not perfect, but we will be in Europe next season in the Champions League. So today is a, and people maybe don’t believe me, absolutely happy, happy day for all of us.”

Manchester City officials will be hoping to have a squad in place for Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff ready to compete from the very start of next season, with up to four new signings expected before replacements for any further outgoings are considered.

The club have already confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will be departing in the coming days with Napoli believed to be the most likely destination, while Kyle Walker is not expected to feature in any part of the club’s future plans beyond his loan at AC Milan.