Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists finishing in the top four is like winning a trophy
PEP GUARDIOLA has risked the wrath of Manchester City fans by insisting a top-four finish is like winning a trophy.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been ridiculed for suggesting the same.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists a top four finish is like winning a trophyAP:Associated Press
But boss Guardiola — brought in by City’s Arab owners to win major silverware — claims just qualifying for the Champions League “is definitely like winning a trophy” on the eve of today’s Emirates clash with fellow top-four chasers Arsenal.
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City also face the Gunners in an FA Cup semi-final showdown at Wembley later this month and Guardiola declared: “I’m not saying I’d rather finish in the top four over the FA Cup but it is like winning titles, definitely, because there are so many strong teams.
“We will try to be there but six teams desire that, so two teams will miss out.
“This year, it’s amazing Chelsea and Liverpool didn’t play in Europe — they didn’t even make the Europa League. That’s how difficult it is.”
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Wenger is under enormous pressure from Gunners fans to stand down despite NEVER finishing outside the top four since arriving at Arsenal in 1996.
But Guardiola defended his rival, adding: “Twenty years in a row? Every season will be tougher. Twenty is a lot of years and I don’t know if it can happen again.”
The Spaniard is ready to enter the £25million race for England centre-half Michael Keane and also wants £17m-rated Bayer Leverkusen full-back Benjamin Henrichs.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was ridiculed for making the same claimPA:Press AssociationPep Guardiola takes his Manchester City side to Arsenal on SundayRex FeaturesArsene Wenger is under enormous pressure from Gunners fans to stand downPA:Press Association
Everton were leading the chase for Burnley star Keane, 24, but City are now weighing up their move.
Keane has only one season left on his Turf Moor deal but will still command a huge fee.
German international Henrichs, 20, is also on Bayern Munich’s wanted list. But Guardiola likes his pace, with Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy all out of contract this summer.
Former Barcelona and Bayern boss Guardiola admits qualifying for the top four can have a bearing on the players he can sign.
He added: “To attract players, it’s not just about salaries. It’s about where they want to play.
Pep Guardiola is set to ship out a number of men from Manchester City this summerRex FeaturesPep Guardiola also claims English clubs are hampered in their quest for Champions League glory by Premier League fixture schedulingReutersPep Guardiola was quick to defend Arsenal manager Arsene WengerPA:Press Association
“If we are not in the Champions League, ask me the same question. If we tried to buy a player and they did not come, then I will have the answer.”
Guardiola also claims English clubs are hampered in their quest for Champions League glory by Premier League fixture scheduling.
He added: “You have to decide the rules for the schedule, how you help English teams to arrive at these games in an important condition.
“I have heard complaints in the past from Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho about the schedule being so complicated.”
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