Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his side are in danger of missing out on next season’s UEFA Champions League if they fail to arrest their alarming slump in form.
The defending Premier League champions have endured a difficult spell, winning just one of their last 12 league matches to slip to seventh in the table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Softfootball understands Guardiola acknowledged the seriousness of City’s situation ahead of their Boxing Day clash with Everton.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said:
Right now, we are at the risk of not qualifying for the Champions League… of course we are! Definitely we are.
The Spaniard stressed that his players must respond quickly if they are to secure a top-four finish, saying:
We have to get points and win games, otherwise we will not qualify for the Champions League!
City face a stern test against an Everton side boosted by successive goalless draws against Arsenal and Chelsea, while Guardiola will also hope his team can extend their recent dominance over the Toffees.
