Pep Guardiola has admitted that failure to qualify for the Champions League would cause financial problems for Manchester City as he struggles with the club's worst run in 21 years.
But the City boss is more concerned about the danger of the club dropping out of regular Champions League qualification, as has happened in recent years with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.
His side face Everton at the Etihad with one win in 12 league and cup games – their worst run since Kevin Keegan made it 14 without a win in early 2004. City are currently in Europe's top league for the fourteenth season in a row – their best ever. part of English football and a match that predates the arrival of Guardiola.
Every year the City boss jokes that qualifying for the Champions League is his first goal, and the goal that gives his owners the biggest smile, which makes the current situation all the more alarming. Guardiola said: “Financially is of course a problem, but that is not just the case.
“When I said it before, people laughed. It's presumptuous for us to win the Premier League. They said: oh well, qualifying for the Champions League is not a great success. I know it is because it happens to clubs in this country. They were dominant for years and then they didn't qualify for the Champions League for many, many years.
“The only team that has played in the Champions League in the last eleven to twelve years is Man City. Now we are in danger, of course we certainly are.”
City currently sit seventh in a league table that sees newcomers such as Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest vying for a place in the top four. Guardiola said: “You have to get points and win games, otherwise we won't qualify for the Champions League and if we don't qualify it's because we don't deserve it.
“Because we weren't prepared, because we had a lot of problems and couldn't solve those problems and couldn't find a way to win games. There are many contenders to be there. It is so important for every club and if we don't win games we are out.”
Guardiola is still struggling with an injury crisis that has left goalkeeper Ederson in doubt about Everton's visit. The City boss revealed he has the full support of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, as he did during his difficult first season in charge.
He said: “Every week we talk. I feel incredibly supported. We may have behaved just like we did in the first season, but it was completely different. We both know: if there is a moment when something goes wrong, we are going to make decisions. I feel incredibly supported by him.
“Of course from Txiki (Begiristain) and Ferran (Soriano) but especially Khaldoon in those terms. We say: okay, the situation is what it is and what we have to do to improve the team. Come on, let's move on to the next one and it's always been positive.”
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