With Liverpool on the verge of lifting its first Premier League title in 30 years, Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said the focus of the club is now to qualify for the Champions League and fight for the title again next season.
Liverpool only needs City to draw against Burnley at the Etihad Stadium tonight and a win against Crytal Palace on Wednesday at Anfield to wrap up the title.
Speaking ahead of next season, the for Bayern Munich manager said he has “ideas for the transfer market” as he plans to reinforce for the Premier League title next season. City, which is currently the champions have won the last two Premier League titles.
Guardiola pointed out that there has not been much wrong with what the team has achieved in terms of points and performance, but City will prepare and try to regain the title again next season after taking 60 points from 29 games this season.
“We have ideas for the transfer market, then next season we will prepare to fight again. Out of the last nine (domestic) trophies we have fought for, we have won eight. That is not bad, and I think next season we will do it again.”
While admitting that Liverpool will remain the strong team, as they will also make some reinforcement, Guardiola said City retained the title, being the first team to do it for ten years, outlining how difficult it is to succeed in the top flight.
Man City’s Champions League campaign
To Guardiola, securing the top four by winning the remaining nine games of the Premier League is what is paramount. This would allow him to concentrate on the second leg of Man City’s Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid. The Citizens had shocked Madrid at the Bernabeau, recording a 2-1 victory.
The return leg might be moved from Etihad Stadium to Portugal by Uefa as the body had already chosen the venue for the last eight of the competition.
Man City will only be needing 11 out of the remaining 27 points available to achieve that aim. However, City may achieve the aim but may find themselves out of Europe next season due to a Uefa ban over breach of the FFP rule.
Knowing that qualification for Europe next season is dependent on the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturning Uefa’s two-season ban, the manager noted that their fate would be known in two or three weeks. CAS had said that the outcome of their appeal would be made known in early July.
“But now I’m focusing on Burnley. Once we are clear for qualification for the Champions League, I will look at some ideas in my head to prepare for the game against Real Madrid.”
