Synopsis
Pep Guardiola emphasizes Manchester City's commitment to a strong finish in the Premier League and qualification for the next Champions League after their European elimination. With only the Premier League and FA Cup left to pursue, Guardiola acknowledges the significance of this period.Key Takeaways
- Guardiola prioritizes the Premier League and FA Cup.
- City's current league position is fourth with 44 points.
- Upcoming match against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.
- Injury updates on Haaland and Stones are concerning.
- City's performance needs improvement this season.
Manchester, Feb 21 (NationPress) Pep Guardiola asserts that Manchester City is now entirely dedicated to concluding the Premier League season on a high note and securing a spot in next year’s Champions League. The team’s exit from Europe, following a 6-3 setback against Real Madrid, leaves them with only the Premier League and FA Cup to contest before the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Currently, Guardiola's squad occupies the fourth position in the league with 44 points from 25 matches and is set to face Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Although Guardiola acknowledges that the loss to Real Madrid indicates his team has not performed at their peak this season, he believes there is still much at stake in the upcoming months.
“We are in a fairly good moment. Except for Madrid, who displayed superior performance and are currently the better team. In recent years, I felt we could compete with any team in the Champions League, and we consistently reached that level,” he stated.
“In past encounters against that team - we felt it, they felt it - we were competitive and, in many respects, even better than them. Unfortunately, this time we could not advance, and we have accepted that reality.
“With two central defenders sidelined for two months, this period in the Premier League is extremely crucial for us,” Pep remarked during the pre-game press conference.
Despite the defending champions trailing Liverpool by 17 points in the Premier League, they have an opportunity to influence the title race when they face Arne Slot’s team, which is eight points ahead of Arsenal, having played one additional match.
Guardiola also provided updates on Erling Haaland and John Stones. Haaland missed Wednesday’s Champions League loss to Real Madrid due to a late withdrawal after the victory over Newcastle United last weekend. With another tough match approaching, Guardiola remains uncertain if the No. 9 will be available.
“We don’t know yet. We will find out tomorrow. It’s always beneficial to have Erling on the pitch. Everyone is accountable for the team’s successes and failures, but clearly, we perform better with Erling,” Guardiola commented.
He was more certain about Stones' condition after the defender exited early in Madrid, indicating he anticipates a considerable recovery period. “He is injured - it’s a serious one. We will determine in the coming days if he requires surgery. It’s the front of his thigh,” he added.
