Guardiola warns Man City players Champions League qualification will not 'fall from the sky'

Pep Guardiola has issued a stern warning to his Manchester City players after their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, insisting that Champions League qualification will not "fall from the sky." 

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late strike condemned City to their ninth league loss of the season, leaving them in a tense battle for a top-four finish.

City’s latest setback means they remain in fourth place, four points behind third-placed Forest and just one ahead of Chelsea, who have a game in hand. 

With only 10 matches left in the campaign, Guardiola stressed the urgency of finding solutions to their poor form.

"We have to win games. We don't win enough games in a row to be secure. We have 10 games left, we have to win a lot of games to qualify. This is how it is," Guardiola was quoted as saying by a sports news website. 

"To find a way we have to play better. We have to do something, it doesn't come from the sky. Of course, the situation is what it is. Ten games left, starting against Brighton next Saturday, international break afterwards and we'll see what happens."

City’s defeat was marred by another costly error, this time from goalkeeper Ederson, who failed to keep out Hudson-Odoi’s shot at the near post. Despite the mistake, Guardiola refused to blame the Brazilian for the team’s struggles.

"It is what it is, we can't blame a player, I prefer to praise than blame," he said. "I didn't see the action. It happens in football, nothing to say."

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest’s victory marked another milestone in their impressive season under Nuno Espírito Santo. 

Despite the significance of the win, Nuno played down talk of Champions League qualification and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus.

"We are very happy. We did a very good game against a tough team," he said. "We are talking about the best teams around. It always gives you the confidence that you can compete well against such good players.

"It allows us to grow as a team, but it doesn't change the opponent ahead of you because the Premier League is very tough. Every good performance we have and every good result we have is always what we look for.

"It doesn't change anything. It's about the focus and the approach of the games. Let's enjoy the journey together. The players are doing amazing, the fans are giving us help, so let's keep on enjoying."

Forest’s triumph came on an emotional day for the club, with former captain Stuart Pearce currently recovering in a Canadian hospital after falling ill on a flight from Las Vegas. Nuno took a moment to send his best wishes to the club legend.

With City struggling to regain momentum and Forest continuing to impress, the battle for Champions League qualification remains wide open. 

Guardiola now faces a crucial test in turning his side’s fortunes around before it’s too late.

Wale Adejumo

Photo Credit: mancity.com