Guardiola Motivated for Champions League Qualification

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that watching the Champions League knockout stages from home after City's early exit is motivating him and the team to secure qualification for next season's tournament. City, eliminated by Real Madrid and currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, face stiff competition from Chelsea and Aston Villa, who are just one point behind, making the remaining matches crucial for Champions League qualification. Guardiola acknowledged City's decline from previous standards but noted that their position could have been much worse. Despite missing key players like Erling Haaland and Ederson for the upcoming match against Everton, Guardiola remains optimistic, emphasizing that fighting for a Champions League spot is not a bad thing and that qualification is still within their hands. He mentioned enjoying this week’s Champions League games as an outside observer and using the experience as further motivation. Guardiola hopes City can challenge Europe's top clubs more successfully next season and sees the current situation as an opportunity for growth.