Man City’s Season Hinges on Final Seven Matches, Guardiola Admits
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City now faces a tough challenge, describing their remaining matches as seven cup finals in their bid to qualify for the Champions League. The team recently slipped out of the top five in the Premier League for the first time in nearly three months, following a disappointing draw against Manchester United.
City has struggled lately, managing to secure only three wins in their last eight league games. Guardiola emphasized the need to gather maximum points in the final stretch of the season to ensure they don’t miss out on a coveted Champions League spot.
“We need 21 points to guarantee our place; that much is clear,” he stated. “It’s straightforward now. We don’t have 15 or 20 games left—just seven. Every match is crucial for us.” He highlighted the competitive nature of the league, noting the strength of teams like Newcastle, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest, which only intensifies the pressure to perform.
Guardiola also reflected on the team’s spirit, saying, “There are signs of improvement. We’ve had some good performances recently, though the game against United was not one of them. The spirit is there, and it will carry us through.” He mentioned that the team has been inspired by the Champions League matches and emphasized the need for that same spirit in their upcoming games.
As City navigates this critical phase, they’re also faced with the challenge of planning for next season without certainty about which competition they’ll be in, all while awaiting the outcome of their hearing regarding alleged financial misconduct.
In the background, there’s a transition occurring with the appointment of Hugo Viana as the new director of football, who started his role this week. Guardiola expressed his hope that Viana will bring fresh perspectives and honesty to the table as they look to reshape the squad. “It should be easy to communicate with him,” Guardiola said, highlighting Viana’s calm demeanor, which contrasts with his own sometimes intense approach. “I’ve asked him to focus on the future and bring us his vision rather than just following our past.”
