Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that they have to earn a place in the Champions League and that it won’t “come from the sky.”
City’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s competition were dealt a blow with Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Callum Hudson-Odoi‘s late winner leaves Forest third in the table while Guardiola’s team are fourth with 10 games remaining.
“We have to play better,” the City boss said.
“We have to do something, it [Champions League qualification] will not come from the sky. Of course, the situation is what it is. Ten games left, next Saturday against Brighton and after we will see what happens.”
City goalkeeper Éderson had earlier made a wonderful save to deny Forest an opener when he tipped Hudson-Odoi’s shot onto the post.
But the Brazilian looked to be at fault for the goal when he was beaten at his near post.
“It is what it is,” said Guardiola. “I never blame a player. I didn’t see the action.”
Despite starting with Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Savinho and Jérémy Doku and bringing Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush off the bench, City struggled to create many clear chances. Of their 14 shots, only three hit the target.
“It was a tight game,” Guardiola added. “At the end, one action on a transition, we missed a pass, and they did a transition and scored.
“We were a little slow in our process. We struggled to make chances but I always give credit to the opponent because they defended really well. Everyone was so connected.
“Our game was a little bit slow, we couldn’t contact with the final third and when we arrived in the final third we didn’t have the brilliance.”
