Pep Guardiola celebrates forgotten Manchester City trophy success from this season in dig at rivals | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been keen to point out his side’s trophy success earned earlier this season and now forgotten by many over the last few days.

The reminder from the Etihad Stadium boss comes just days after his side succumbed to a second consecutive FA Cup Final defeat at Wembley Stadium, in what was the third year in a row that the Blues had made it all the way in the competition.

Despite a largely dominant showing from City in terms of ball possession, it was the defensive stability and threat on the counter-attack that proved to be the difference as a single goal from Eberechi Eze won Palace their first piece of major silverware in the club’s history.

It leaves Guardiola and his Manchester City players with their first major trophy-less campaign since the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager’s debut season at the club back in 2016/17.

Speaking to the media ahead of City’s penultimate game of the Premier League season, Pep Guardiola was asked of the challenge he now has on his hands to lift the team following the FA Cup Final defeat on Saturday.

“We played a really good Final, not enough to win it,” Guardiola said. “And we have the last two games, we need four points to next year to be in the Champions League. And this is enough, and everyone has to be aware of that.”

“Of course it’s important to qualify,” the City manager continued. “But for other teams like – because it’s just for the titles – except Newcastle that won the Carabao Cup, Liverpool that won the Premier League, and Manchester City that won the Community Shield – the other teams didn’t win the trophies.

“And the other teams like Chelsea, of course can win one title, and after [Manchester] United and Tottenham can win the Europa League, all the other teams are expecting to qualify for the Champions League because it’s important for every club that plays this competition next year.”

The Manchester City boss was then asked about his confidence with regards to his side qualifying for next season’s Champions League, in which he admitted, “If we are not in the Champions League, it’s because we don’t deserve it. And we’ll play the Europa League.

“So it is what it is… I’m thinking we’re going to qualify, yeah. My mind controls my mind. My thought is I’m going to think of that. And if I think that, I think that. And I think we need two victories or four points to qualify. That is my target.”

“Absolutely,” was the final word from the Catalan tactician when asked specifically of his confidence around securing a top-five finish.

Bournemouth are the visitors to Manchester City on Tuesday night in what will also be an evening dedicated to Kevin De Bruyne, as the Belgian bids farewell to the club in his final home match of a 10-year career at the Etihad Stadium.