Man City boss Pep Guardiola calls for fans’ backing in bid for Champions League qualification
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is still seeking a top-five finish in the Premier League this season to qualify for the Champions League next term.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged the fans to back his team instead of focusing on ticket price increases, as he prepares for a Premier League home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 2.
The English champions, now officially dethroned by Liverpool, are still seeking a top-five finish this season to qualify for the Champions League next term.
They have won three consecutive league games, while Wolves have impressively claimed maximum points from their last six fixtures.
“It’s (Champions League qualification) what we want. We have four finals. We will go for the first one (on Friday),” Guardiola said on May 1.
During his press conference, he was asked about a planned protest by City supporters on the ticket prices, to which he called for the fans to back the team on the pitch instead with so much to play for.
“Come to help us! We need them, because the fans want next season to play in the Champions League and be a better team than we have been in this competition this season,” Guardiola added.
“We have to try to be what we have done for many, many years in the last years. So we need them, desperately! Come to help us until the first minute until the end.”
City will hope to build on momentum after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 last weekend to advance to the FA Cup final, in which they will take on Crystal Palace.
Before that though, the focus is on the Premier League and at the very least a Champions League spot from an underwhelming season by their standards.
Guardiola’s men have collected 14 points from the last 18 available, and will hope for a victory against Wolves to climb to third in the table for now.
Another win would also mean that City have four successive league wins for the first time since the opening four matches of this season.
Guardiola would have noted that they have won eight of their last nine home encounters with Wolves. However, the visitors are in red-hot form and have won their last four away fixtures.
Wolves beat Leicester City 3-0 last weekend and will hope to continue their winning run.
Forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has scored six goals in that six-match streak, believes that Wolves must go to the Etihad and play their own game.
“Going into this game, it’s going to be tough. It’s one of the best teams in the world, great players, but we want to be ourselves,” the Norwegian said.
“We can go there to win if we play a really good game, but we can also play a good game and lose. So, the most important thing for us is to keep on going and try to be ourselves, not changing anything.
“We want to keep the ball, try to go there and create something and be dangerous. But, at the same time, we need to watch that they don’t run over us with the good players.”
On the injury front, City are missing Erling Haaland, Rodri, Nathan Ake and John Stones, while Oscar Bobb and goalkeeper Ederson are doubtful.
As for Wolves, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Yerson Mosquera are still sidelined.
