Man City have '10 finals' to 'avoid disaster'

Manchester City are successful unchartered territory nether Pep Guardiola.

A 1-0 nonaccomplishment astatine Nottingham Forest condemned the Premier League champions to their ninth league decision of the run - equalling their grounds for astir league defeats successful a play during the Spaniard's reign.

And for the archetypal clip nether Guardiola, qualification for the Champions League is nether superior threat.

It is simply a script that was unthinkable arsenic City lifted their 4th consecutive league rubric past May.

Though a fifth-placed decorativeness could yet supply a Champions League lifeline, determination are conscionable 5 points betwixt fourth-placed City and Aston Villa successful 10th arsenic we participate the last signifier of the season.

Manchester City person not missed retired connected Champions League qualification since the 2009-10 season.

They person qualified for the tourney with comparative easiness successful 7 of Guardiola's 8 afloat seasons astatine Etihad Stadium.

The lone objection came during Guardiola's archetypal play successful England, erstwhile City sealed Champions League qualification connected the last time of the 2016-17 play by finishing third.

City's tally of signifier does not marque for blessed reading.

Speaking to TNT Sports, erstwhile Everton and Swansea defender Ashley Williams summed up the unprecedented presumption City find themselves in.

"We are truthful utilized to seeing Man City beryllium exceptional that a play similar this is considered a crisis," said Williams.

Former City defender Joleon Lescott said it would beryllium a "disaster" if City failed to suffice for the Champions League.

"City are successful power of their fate. It would beryllium disastrous if they didn't suffice for the apical four," said Lescott.

City person 10 matches remaining successful their Premier League season.

Guardiola says helium broadside indispensable dainty each azygous crippled arsenic a "final", starting with the sojourn of Brighton, who are conscionable 1 constituent down City, to the Etihad adjacent Saturday.

"We person 10 games to qualify," Guardiola said.

"We person to triumph games to suffice and we determination connected to the adjacent one.

"Every play the Premier League gets amended and better. We person 10 finals [to come].

"We don't triumph capable games successful a enactment to beryllium secure. We person to bash something, it doesn't travel from the sky."

City spent much than £180m successful the January transportation window, bringing successful the likes of Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush.

But the side's signifier has remained inconsistent, with City winning 4 and losing 5 of their 9 matches since the adjacent of the window.

Former Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand feels the January signings are suffering from the team's instability.

"I don't deliberation they brought successful atrocious players but they person conscionable travel successful in little unchangeable times," Ferdinand told TNT Sports.

"You cant stake against Man City, they person the players and the manager."

Former England centre-back Lescott says City indispensable suffice for the Champions League successful bid to pull the champion players this summer.

"If you privation top, apical players, Man City request Champions League football," Lescott told TNT Sports.

"Elite players request Champions League football."

A nonaccomplishment to suffice for the Champions League would besides harm the club's finances.

City earned astir £90m arsenic they went retired of the Champions League astatine the quarter-finals signifier past season.

Their play-off exit to Real Madrid this play means they basal to gain astir £28m less, with an estimated £64m windfall this time.

But nonaccomplishment to suffice for the contention for adjacent play would beryllium acold much costly.

Rivals Manchester United precocious announced their quarterly results for the 3 months ending 2024.

Revenue was down 12% - a autumn of implicit £25m - aft the nine failed to suffice for the Champions League and entered the Europa League instead.

Over the people of a year, the outgo of being extracurricular the Champions League tin outgo clubs astir £100m successful mislaid revenue.