Pep Guardiola admitted qualifying for the Champions League can be a “enormous success” after his Manchester Metropolis group moved as much as fourth within the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Everton.
Metropolis left it late to grab all three factors of their last journey to Goodison Park, with the increasingly-influential Nico O’Reilly tapping dwelling within the eighty fifth minute earlier than substitute Mateo Kovacic sealed the factors in stoppage time.
James Tarkowski had earlier hit the publish for the hosts earlier than limping off with an damage simply after the break.
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— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) April 19, 2025
It was a largely drab affair however Guardiola’s aspect discovered a technique to win as they appear to safe a top-five end and guarantee qualification to European membership soccer’s elite competitors subsequent season.
To realize Champions League standing, the Metropolis boss mentioned, can be a major achievement.
“Within the second half we made a step up, our gamers carried out significantly better and, in the long run, we discovered the objectives we would have liked to win the sport,” Guardiola mentioned.
“To get to the Champions League on this nation is a big success, a giant success. They won’t persuade me in any other case.
“Prior to now once we gained the Premier League, even when six or seven video games earlier than we knew we had certified I all the time tried to rejoice it as a result of I understand how tough it’s.”
Guardiola was additionally fast to single out reward for 20-year-old O’Reilly: “Our followers love Nico as a result of they love Academy gamers.
“He’s one other participant that may assist us.”
Speaking about Everton’s stadium, the Metropolis supervisor admitted he had some painful recollections from earlier visits however added he can be unhappy to see it go.
Guardiola mentioned: “It has been really, really an honour to return right here to Goodison Park for a few years. As we speak I used to be on the pitch [before the game] watching on the display, watching all of the objectives [at Goodison Park over the years] and I mentioned, ‘Wow! That is English soccer’”
“My buddy [former Toffees boss] Ronald Koeman destroyed me the primary time I got here right here in a 4-0, with [Romelu] Lukaku, I keep in mind completely. The start of an unbelievable journey that we live and have lived for nearly a couple of decade.”
