Pep Guardiola is upbeat on Manchester City’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League after missing the opportunity to go second on the Premier League table following Saturday’s 0-0 at Southampton, Afrosport reports.
The game at Saint Mary’s was perceived to be a walk in the park owing to the fact that the Saints were already relegated and the Citizens were boosted by the return of talisman Erling Haaland.
None of it was however to City’s advantage as they produced 26 total shots with only five on target and no big chance created.
The result means the Citizens failed to leapfrog Arsenal into second place but still remain in third place, two points behind the Gunners and two points clear of Chelsea who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot in fifth.
“The effort was there. We tried everything,” Guardiola told the club website. “[Southampton] can do whatever they want. For many years here we faced teams with different approaches and a team that’s been relegated to play in that way.
“We have three games left – the FA Cup and two games in the Premier League and I didn’t expect anything different from one month ago in that that we will need to fight until the end.”
PEP
(On today’s result) It’s a missed opportunity. We know that.
We have three games, the FA Cup final and two [Premier League] games and I don’t expect anything different from one month ago. We will need to fight until the end. pic.twitter.com/uaGGA4TuxM
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 10, 2025
Meanwhile, Swiss centre-back Manuel Akanji, reacting to the result, said it was just “one of those days”.
“We tried to score a goal. We also had some chances that maybe we should have scored. We kept on trying and it just didn’t want to go in,” he stated.
“It wasn’t easy. If we played maybe one or two better passes, or had a better finish at the end, then we might have scored. But it was one of those days, it didn’t want to go in.”
Man City will face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final next Saturday before concluding their season with league games at home to Bournemouth and away at Fulham.
