Guardiola says champions league qualification like lifting a trophy for City ahead of Bournemouth
19/05/2025
CGA, Manchester, UK
19/05/2025
CGA, Manchester, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00What kind of a job do you have to raise the players' spirits for a very important game after the big disappointments of the weekend?
00:09We have. We have. We played a really good final, not enough to win it.
00:17And we had the last two games. We need four points and next year to be in a Champions League.
00:25And this is enough and everyone has to be aware of that.
00:29You've talked about this season not being a good one, but if you were to get that qualification spot for the Champions League, would you at least see that as a positive ending and something to build on?
00:42Of course it's important to qualify.
00:44But for other teams like except because it's just for the titles except Newcastle that won the Carabao Cup and Liverpool that won the Premier League and Manchester City that won the Community Shield.
01:01The other teams don't win the trophies. So when the other teams like Chelsea and of course Chelsea can win one title and of course Tottenham and the final against Redis and after United and Tottenham can win the Europa League.
01:18And obviously having played Bournemouth a couple of times this season already, you know what to expect. Do you see them as a real success story in the Premier League this season?
01:33Absolutely. I mean a big impact start last season and this season prove it. Yeah, it's really, really good team.
01:40Yeah, it's really, really good team.
01:41Hi Pep. Is there any chance of any of the injured players returning tomorrow?
01:47Well, we'll see. Some players are better. Roddy is even better day by day. Yeah, we'll see.
01:55And should you get a penalty tomorrow? Will Erling be taking the penalty again?
01:59I didn't talk with them. We trained this afternoon.
02:03Do you need to clear up the penalty situation at all? No, it's not clear. It's a taker to start to score a goal.
02:10Just two days on from Wembley. Have you had a chance to process and review what happened in that game?
02:17No, I didn't see the game. I'm focusing on Bournemouth. When I have just two or three days, I don't have much time to watch.
02:23Maybe tonight I'm going to review. I want to see some images to tomorrow show to the players.
02:29But I was in last night and this morning, Bournemouth, Bournemouth and Bournemouth.
02:36How crucial has tomorrow's game now become? And can you compare it to big finals that you've played in the past year?
02:43Of course it's important. I've been the last 13 or 14 or 15 years. I don't remember in Champions League we want to be.
02:48But if we are not beat, we don't deserve it. We play the Europa League. So, it's where it is.
02:53Have you thought about maybe not qualifying?
02:56I'm thinking we're going to qualify. Yeah.
02:59How confident are you?
03:01My mind, I control my mind. My thoughts are set away. I'm going to think that.
03:05And I think that, I think that. And I think, OK, we need two victories, four points to qualify.
03:10This is for the first ones, the first step to finish this in third position on the Premier League.
03:17And that is my target.
03:18Confident of doing it?
03:20Absolutely.
03:21Pep, what about the minutes the players obviously got in their legs at the weekend?
03:29I mean, how conscious are you of that? How much do you think you might have to rotate for the game tomorrow?
03:34Well, I will decide tomorrow.
03:37So, they are going to play, they are happy. The guys to play will be unhappy.
03:41The guys who play a few minutes are happy. The other ones aren't happy.
03:44So, this is always in all the clubs. I will decide today and tomorrow.
03:48Kevin obviously played more than 100 minutes, which is a lot of football for anyone player.
03:52Yeah.
03:53This will be his farewell though at the Etihad as well.
03:56How much do you have to balance the sentiments of the occasion with, obviously, the minutes he played at the weekend?
04:03Kevin, what I want is that we want the game to qualify for the Champions League next season.
04:06This is what Kevin wants. It could not be otherwise. So, it could be differently.
04:10And I'm going to decide the best for the best players to win the game against Bournemouth. That's for sure.
04:14Even if he doesn't start though, will he get some game time assuming he is fit?
04:19Kevin will get or will deserve what he deserves. That is the best moment.
04:25And the best compliment, you know, for his incredible trajectory.
04:30And what he has done that I said many times with an incredible other legends in this club will not be possible
04:37what they have done in these many, many years or 10 years, 15 years.
04:40Since I think Sheikh Mansour took over the club and ran this club to reach another level.
04:48He said at the weekend after the game that he's not expecting to go and play at the Club World Cup.
04:53Is that your expectation too?
04:54I didn't speak. I didn't talk about him about that.
04:57So I don't hear that.
04:58He is going to be a big step.
05:00Is that Neon Weigel for 10-13?
05:02Is that my expectations too?
05:07Thank you for listening.
05:08Thanks.