Manchester City’s place in next season’s Champions League is at risk, according to manager Pep Guardiola. Despite being in their 14th consecutive season of European football’s elite competition, City are currently struggling in the Premier League, sitting seventh after 17 matches—four points adrift of fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola acknowledged the threat to their Champions League ambitions, with City failing to secure a top-four finish so far this season. They are currently trailing not only Forest and fifth-placed Bournemouth but also unexpected challengers such as Aston Villa, Newcastle, Fulham, and Brighton, all of whom are within a few points of City in the standings.
“When I said before, people laughed,” Guardiola said. “They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success.’ But I know it happens with clubs in this country. They were dominant for many years, and after that, many years without qualifying for the Champions League.”
City have struggled recently, earning just four points from their last eight matches. Guardiola admitted this poor form has left their European prospects in doubt. “Now we are at risk, of course, we are. Definitely,” he added.
Manchester City’s upcoming fixtures offer a potential opportunity to improve. They face Everton at home on Boxing Day, followed by trips to Leicester on December 29 and a home match against West Ham on January 4. All three teams are currently in the bottom seven of the league, making them crucial fixtures for City to get back on track.
Guardiola’s comments highlight the pressure City are facing as they aim to return to the Champions League, with their form in domestic competition making qualification uncertain. Despite their current standing, Guardiola was clear: “If we don’t qualify, it is because we don’t deserve it, because we were not prepared and because we had a lot of problems and didn’t solve them.”
With the race for European places heating up, City must swiftly regain form to secure their spot in the Champions League next season.
