Pep Guardiola on City's participation in the Champions League: “We are in trouble, of course we are”
METROManchester City is going through a terrible moment in all its competitions and it seems that it is on a slide from which, at least this season, it will not be able to get out.
This Thursday, as part of the traditional boxing day celebrations, raffles at home Evertonin what is their fourth game without winning in the Premier League and with a deep crisis of results that threatens, above all, their participation in the Champions League, where they are on the verge of elimination in the first round.
Pep Guardiola's fiery meeting with a fan after Liverpool's defeat
He Citizens let the game slip away after the 'candy'keeper Jordan Pickford He saved a penalty from Erling Haaland. The poor result increases the pressure on Spanish coach Pep Guardiola, who recently renewed his contract after hesitating to renew with the club in search of a project with a national team.
To try to save the tournament, Guardiola He indicated that the club will try to strengthen itself with a significant investment in the winter market. However, he acknowledged that the team is at real risk of being eliminated from the tournament. champions league in the league phase and could also break a spectacular streak of 15 consecutive years participating in the Europe's top club competition.
However, the club finished the year with just one win in its last nine. first division games and have already fallen to sixth place in the table, 11 points behind the leader Liverpool, with two more games to play
Although the situation is serious, there is still time to reverse it, since it is three points away nottingham forest, who are fourth in the table, the last place that gets a direct place in the champions league
“When I said it before, people laughed. They said, 'qualify for the champions league “It's not a great success. But I know it because it happens with the clubs in this country,” Pep said before the game against Everton
They were dominant for many years and then went many years without qualifying for the Champions League. The only team that has been in the Champions League in recent years has been Manchester City. We are in danger now, of course.
And he acknowledged that the squad has been weakened, which is why reinforcements are urgently needed: “We have to add players. Without a doubt. We have problems, especially at the back and in the center. I think we have to do it, but I don't know if it will happen. The winter transfer window is not easy.”
Bad result against Everton
In addition, the team is winless in its last 13 games in all competitions, with Thursday's draw, and was unable to take advantage of the home game against one of the bottom teams in the standings. They only had 20 interesting minutes and managed to take the lead with a goal from Bernard Silvabut there was still a long way to go in the game.
In his first dangerous move, Everton took advantage of an erratic center that Manuel Akanji released, the ball reached the far post and Rico Lewiswho had to cover that area, was careless and gave way to Iliman Ndiaye who finished off the rebound, to beat Stephen Ortegawith a great finish
The draw accentuated the insecurity of the City players, but another clear opportunity was presented to them when Mykolenkoin the second half, he knocked down Savinho in a clear penalty. Haaland asked for the ball, while Seamus Coleman He approached him to try to distract him and Jordan Pickford He stuck out his tongue.
Finally, Pickford He guessed and stopped the shot and on the counterattack, although the Norwegian scored, the referee ruled it out for offside.
City will end the week 11 points behind the Reds and could be 17 if Liverpool wins the games that have three points left in the Champions League, where they are playing for a place in the playoffs to stay alive in January against PSG.
