Guardiola: The season is still in our hands | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says that qualifying for the Champions League is still a success but that Manchester City have to earn it.

His side slipped out of the top-four of the Premier League after conceding a late goal in a 1-0 defeat at third-placed Nottingham Forest.

The top half of the table are all fighting for a spot in the Champions League with the top five potentially qualifying.

It was a frustrating late finish with Forest now four points ahead of the Blues with 10 games of the season remaining for most sides.

WATCH: Nottingham Forest 1-0 City: Short highlights

“Of course if we qualify for the Champions League it will be a big success,” Guardiola said.

“But you have to [earn it] and win games and we are able to do it sometimes in a row, but sometimes with four or five minutes left of the game we have a chance, but we could not do it.

“I think we controlled the game really well apart from the last 10 minutes. In general we controlled really well with [Anthony] Elanga and [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, but in the end in the position we had, we were in control.”

Having won the Premier League in six of the last seven seasons and finishing runners-up in the other, it’s an unfamiliar campaign for many in the squad.

We are also aiming to compete in the Champions League for a 15th successive season, including campaigns under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini as well as Guardiola.

No other club has competed in the competition every season during that period despite enjoying success in England and Europe.

“Listen, I want to qualify for the Champions League – of course we want to qualify,” Guardiola added.

“But the other teams who did not qualify last season have come back and they are there, and how many years have Manchester City been in the Champions League? 10 years? More?

“Before that, we never played in the Champions League, so of course, we are used to doing exceptional things and of course we have to try to do it.

“But at the end, of course, we wake up in the morning and try to do a good season next season, we have to continue, but at the end we have to try.

“Sometimes in the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and other competitions, the circumstances and small details and many things make the difference.

“But in the Premier League, after 38 games, if we don’t qualify it is because we were not good enough.

“But we still have 10 games, the season is still in our hands, and we are going to try.”