Pep Guardiola Calls on Man City to Bounce Back from Setbacks

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his team can use their early Champions League exit as motivation to qualify for the next edition.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his team can use the disappointment of their early Champions League exit as motivation to qualify for the next edition. City's seven-year streak of reaching the quarterfinals was snapped with a 6-3 aggregate loss to Real Madrid.

The Premier League side is also struggling domestically, sitting fifth in the standings, 21 points behind leaders Liverpool. With Chelsea and Aston Villa just one point behind, City will need to perform well in the final stretch to secure a top-five finish and earn a Champions League spot. Guardiola emphasized that his team can channel their disappointment into fuel for their remaining matches.

 

“Of course it is motivation, yeah. I don't think it's a bad thing to be fighting to qualify for the Champions League...,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of a trip to Everton on Saturday and a home meeting with Villa on Tuesday.

“It's in our hands, and of course, Goodison Park and Villa are massively important. We don't have much time. I enjoyed (this week's Champions League) games, really nice games. I enjoyed it, I miss it, of course, but I accept that.

“Sometimes in sport you don't perform well, don't deserve to be (there). Hopefully next season we can be, dealing with the big clubs in Europe and challenging them better than we have done this season, what we have done in the last seven years. I take it in that way.”

PEP 💬 Goodison Park is so special, like old traditional stadiums in England from the past.

[You] go to Fulham, Villa Park, you feel the special atmosphere. [It’s a] a nice place to go, a difficult one of course but nice. pic.twitter.com/OHkpYVkPTV

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 18, 2025

Manchester City's upcoming match against Everton will see the team without key players Erling Haaland and Ederson. Haaland is currently unavailable, while Ederson suffered a groin injury in the win over Crystal Palace. “Next games, he (Haaland) will not be ready. We don't know how long he (Ederson) will be out for,” Guardiola said.

Some players have returned to training, with Phil Foden resuming practice on Thursday and Manuel Akanji also back in action. “I see him (Akanji) moving really well,” Guardiola noted. However, John Stones and Nathan Ake are still recovering and have not yet returned to the team. “(John Stones and Nathan Ake) not yet (back). They're getting better, but not yet.”

Gundo magic 🪄 pic.twitter.com/NLuUVnXPk3

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 18, 2025