Pep Guardiola calls season ‘bad’ even with Champions League within reach

Manchester City managaer Pep Guardiola during the 2-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Apr 23, 2025, 10:40 AM

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LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has scoffed at suggestions that his team could look back on this season as a special one if they clinch a Champions League berth.

City took a big step towards securing European qualification with their 2-1 English Premier League win over Aston Villa on April 22 thanks to Matheus Nunes’s 94th-minute strike.

Guardiola’s men climbed two spots to third in the league table, still 18 points behind leaders Liverpool and so will finish well short of their early-season goal of capturing an historic fifth consecutive league title.

“This season has been bad,” the City boss said.

“It doesn’t matter whether we reach the (FA Cup) final, or qualification for the Champions League. The reality is that what determines... what makes you feel the season is good is the Premier League, not the Champions League, not FA Cups. It’s that consistency in the Premier League.

“But it happens, sometimes you have bad seasons. The level of the teams (in the Premier League) is outstanding.”