Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concern that the club could miss out on qualification for next season’s Champions League.
City, currently seventh in the Premier League, are facing an uphill battle to secure a top-four finish. Only Arsenal, between 1998 and 2017, and Manchester United, between 1996 and 2014, boast longer consecutive runs of Champions League qualification among English clubs.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of Champions League qualification, stating, “When I said before, people laughed. They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’. But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country.” He referenced the previous struggles of Arsenal and Manchester United to maintain their Champions League presence.
With England currently leading UEFA’s European Performance Spot table, a fifth Champions League place may be available for the country next season. However, City’s current position in the league table would not secure them a place in the competition.
