Ruben Dias rallies Manchester City squad to avoid major Pep Guardiola rebuild embarrassment | OneFootball

Manchester City vice-captain Ruben Dias has jolted his teammates in a bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League after a narrow defeat to Nottingham Forest.

An 83rd minute strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi sealed all three points for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to extend Nottingham Forest’s lead over fourth-placed Manchester City to four points with 10 league games to be played.

Kevin De Bruyne, Omar Marmoush and Jack Grealish were all named on the substitutes bench against Forest at the weekend, with the hosts having taken a gigantic leap towards a third-place league finish through their win.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis have been a breath of fresh air in defence since their January arrivals but Manchester City continue to miss the trio of Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji owing to long-term injuries.

The Blues have also lacked creativity in midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish struggling for form and fitness, and City no longer have the option to call upon the likes of Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer; who have been sold in 18 months.

A summer exodus is expected that will see a series of first-team players depart and incoming director of football Hugo Viana is likely to cash in on City’s stellar sales figures in recent seasons and back Pep Guardiola to rebuild a young, hungry side to challenge in years to come.

However, Manchester City need to get their act together and in any way shape or form, succeed in their bid to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League with a top-four league finish this term.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the City Ground, Ruben Dias said, “Well, we’re not going to be thinking about ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’. We know our target and it is very clear and we’ve got to push, we’ve got to do our best.”

Manchester City’s success on multiple fronts – in addition to the Premier League – has been the hallmark of the Blues’ unparalleled dominance in English football since Pep Guardiola joined the club in 2016.

“We’re obviously not used to playing (once a week), so that’s a different challenge for us, but we need to make it (in next season’s Champions League),” Ruben Dias continued.

A failure to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition will have a cascading impact on City’s finances and with changes aplenty expected at the end of the season, Guardiola cannot afford any further slip-ups this season if he is to tempt his desired players to Manchester.