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Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola has performed down the danger of Manchester Metropolis failing to qualify for the Champions League as they put together to face certainly one of their rivals for a top-five spot within the Premier League – however known as his membership’s place “not superb”.
Fourth-placed Metropolis are some extent behind Nottingham Forest instantly above them earlier than heading to the Metropolis Floor on Saturday (12.30pm GMT), with Chelsea, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion all inside three factors of the Cityzens.
“There are numerous golf equipment preventing for this goal,” mirrored Guardiola, including that “it is not going to be the tip of the world” if Metropolis fail to succeed in the Champions League for the primary time since 2010/11.
“Everybody desires to be within the Champions League subsequent season, for a lot of causes. If it doesn’t occur, it will likely be as a result of we haven’t been ok and different groups deserve it.
“Within the Premier League, in 38 fixtures, it’s truthful sufficient. We’re able that’s not superb however will not be dangerous sufficient. It’s in our arms and we’re going to battle for that.”
Metropolis boss Guardiola: Ola Aina ‘distinctive’
Whereas a top-four end within the Premier League would assure a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League, an additional spot appears prone to be awarded to the crew ending fifth due to England’s coefficient factors, that are awarded primarily based on how groups from every nation carry out in European competitions.
One participant who will be unable to help Metropolis’s push for qualification is defender Nathan Ake, who Guardiola expects to be out for between 10 and 11 weeks following surgical procedure on a fracture in his left foot sustained throughout Metropolis’s FA Cup fifth spherical dwelling win over second-tier Plymouth Argyle final Saturday.
The Spaniard had excessive reward for a participant Metropolis have been linked with earlier this season, calling Forest’s Ola Aina “an distinctive participant – a full-back who can play on each side.”
“They’re a bodily crew within the center,” Guardiola added. “[Eliot] Andersen is a high participant. They’ve a very good goalkeeper [Matz Sels] and skilled defenders.
“The 4 up entrance create many issues for themselves – [Callum] Hudson[-Odoi], [Anthony] Elanga, [Morgan] Gibbs-White, [Chris] Wooden.”
PEP 💬 The affect of [Abdukodir] Khusanov was actually good… Vitor [Reis] was actually good towards Plymouth. Now, some centre-backs from the Academy are coming to play with us. A few of the senior ones could also be prepared for the Membership World Cup. We’re unfortunate [with injuries] however the Membership… pic.twitter.com/Duq5PpRbcq
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) March 7, 2025
Nottingham Forest vs Man Metropolis
Forest misplaced 3-0 at Metropolis on December 4 and ended a two-match dropping run with a 0-0 draw at dwelling to Arsenal on February 26.
“If you find yourself third with [11 league] video games left, it’s as a result of you’ve got accomplished actually, actually, rather well,” noticed Guardiola. “It’s spectacular, I’d say.
“They defend rather well – they’re actually compact and aggressive, and their transitions are actually good. [They have] the lengthy balls to Wooden.”
