Guardiola plays down Man City title chase ahead of Liverpool cracker

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted finishing in the top four in the Premier League would be a major achievement ahead of their clash with league leaders Liverpool.

The Reds face Manchester City at the Etihad this Sunday in a fixture which could decide Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League.

Despite his illustrious career, in which he has won 57 trophies as a player and manager, Guardiola’s side faces a daunting challenge. City trails league leaders Liverpool by 17 points ahead of their crucial clash, with injuries and poor form hampering their campaign.

Key players Rodri, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji are long-term absentees, while Erling Haaland (knee) remains a doubt. The squad has also been depleted by injuries to Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake, while club captain Kyle Walker left for AC Milan after struggling for form.

When asked by Mail Sport if he would take pride in a third- or fourth-place finish, Guardiola responded:

“Unbelievable. Wow. 100 per cent, it would be a big achievement. We go to dinner, I invite you. You choose the restaurant, I pay! The target is to qualify for the Champions League. It would be a big success. My mindset is that I think we’ll do it, but reality will dictate where we are.”

With the FA Cup now their only remaining shot at silverware, Guardiola urged his players to embrace the challenge rather than shy away from their struggles.

“I said to them, ‘Try to be here.’ I couldn’t spend the last years of my life thinking that the first time we struggled, I didn’t care. No, I am here until the end.”