Pep Guardiola makes shock Champions League declaration: “Not the end of the world”

To say Manchester City haven’t had the season we were all expecting them to would be quite the understatement, with their hopes of winning the Premier League all but over, and Real Madrid knocking them out of the Champions League.

Manchester City’s Premier League and UCL slump

Pep Guardiola’s team were firm favorites to win the English top division for a record extending fifth successive time and got off to a strong start. However, the wheels came off in unexpected, but spectacular, fashion before Christmas, to the extent they are 20 points adrift of leaders Liverpool and have a real fight on their hands to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Their hopes of winning this season’s European tournament were extinguished by Madrid, who won home and away to secure a 6-3 aggregate triumph over City in the knockout phase playoff round. The Mancunians not even reaching the last 16 was a failure nobody saw coming.

On Saturday (March 8), the Sky Blues travel to Nottingham Forest who, to the surprise of everyone, are in third place in the Premier League standings, one place and one point ahead of City. To complicate matters further for the reigning champions, they have a number of teams breathing down their neck as they look to clinch a place in next season’s UCL, although Guardiola is, surprisingly, not that bothered if they get there.

Pep Guardiola not phased by Champions League failure

“It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we don’t qualify,” the former Barcelona coach opined in a prematch press conference before facing Forest.

“If that happens it’s because we didn’t do well enough and other teams deserved it more. In knockout competitions like that or the FA Cup, uncertainty can cost you, although in the Premier League there are 38 games and you get what you deserve. We are in a less than ideal position, but it’s not that bad either as it’s still in our own hands”.

Where do Manchester City need to finish to qualify for the UCL?

The good news for City is that the Premier League will almost certainly have a fifth team in next season’s Champions League, as English clubs have amassed the most coefficient points in European competitions this season, a stat that looks very unlikely to change.

That means a top-five finish will secure a place in the 2025/26 group stage, although Chelsea, Newcastle, Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham and Aston Villa are all within six points of fourth-placed City as the run-in approaches.

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