Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City side to show “character” as they chase a Champions League spot following a gritty 2-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
Second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic lifted City into fourth place, keeping their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League alive. But Guardiola, reflecting on a season riddled with injuries and inconsistency, warned that the job is far from done.
“I’ve tried to convince the players that qualifying for the Champions League is a huge achievement in this country and in this league,” Guardiola said post-match. “Being in the Champions League is enough thinking otherwise is arrogance.”
The reigning champions currently sit on 58 points a significant dip compared to the 73 points they had at this stage last season. Guardiola admitted this has been one of the toughest campaigns of his career, but he praised the team for staying “more or less stable” amid adversity.
“We sleep fourth tonight. It’s in our hands. We have a final on Tuesday,” he added, referencing their next clash a critical home fixture against Aston Villa, who thrashed Newcastle 4-1 over the weekend.
With just five matches left, City face stiff competition from Newcastle, Forest, Villa, and Chelsea, all within striking distance. For a team accustomed to title races, a Champions League spot now feels like the new battlefront.
