Pep Guardiola is confident that his team will secure a Champions League spot. He explained his confidence by comparing Manchester City to the other teams still in the race. He also spoke about the possibility of it being Kevin De Bruyne’s last home match.
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With just a few matches remaining in the Premier League season, the battle for Champions League qualification is heating up, and Manchester City find themselves at the heart of the fight.
Although the title has already been secured by Liverpool, the race for the remaining top-four spots remains wide open, with three Champions League places still available. City, alongside Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest, are all competing for those coveted places at Europe’s top table.
Currently, Manchester City sit in sixth place a position that would see them drop into the Europa League. However, they have a crucial advantage: a game in hand. That additional fixture could make all the difference in a tightly packed table where even a single point can shift the standings significantly. On Tuesday, May 20, at 21:00, City will host AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in what is being widely viewed as a must-win encounter. A victory would not only keep their Champions League hopes alive but also provide a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final stretch of the season.
During the pre-match press conference, manager Pep Guardiola appeared calm and confident, projecting belief in his players and their ability to deliver when it matters most. "I think we’re going to qualify. And if I think that, then I think that," he said with a smile, offering little room for doubt.
Guardiola further backed up his optimism by pointing to City’s record this season in comparison to their direct rivals. "Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup, we won the Community Shield, Liverpool won the title the rest haven’t won any trophies," he stated. "I believe we need four points or two wins to make it. That’s my goal. Confident? Absolutely. If we don’t qualify, then we didn’t deserve it. Then we’ll play in the Europa League. It is what it is…"
Yet, there’s more than just qualification on the line for City fans this Tuesday it could also mark the end of an era. Kevin De Bruyne, the club’s long-serving midfield maestro, may be playing his final Premier League home game for Manchester City. Speculation has been mounting about the Belgian’s future, and Guardiola addressed the topic with great respect.
"Kevin wants just one thing: to win the game so we can qualify for the Champions League next season. That’s what Kevin wants, it can’t be anything else," said the manager. "What we’ve achieved in the past wouldn’t have been possible without him. And I’ll make the best decision, with the best players, to win the match against Bournemouth that’s for sure."
De Bruyne has been a transformative figure for the club since his arrival in 2015, playing a vital role in City’s domestic dominance and European campaigns over the years. His technical brilliance, vision, and leadership have made him one of the most respected midfielders in world football. But as he turns 33, reports of a potential summer departure are growing stronger, and many are bracing for the possibility that this could be his final season in sky blue.
Asked about De Bruyne’s availability for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup a tournament scheduled to feature champions from around the globe Guardiola was unable to provide clarity. "We haven’t talked about that yet," he admitted, leaving the door open to further speculation. De Bruyne himself had earlier offered a rather bleak outlook following City’s recent FA Cup final loss: "It doesn’t make any sense. There’s a big chance I won’t be there," he said bluntly.
What is certain, however, is that Kevin De Bruyne’s departure would mark the end of a golden chapter for Manchester City. His contributions have been immense, and replacing his influence on and off the pitch will be no small task. But for now, the focus remains on Bournemouth and the Champions League.
A win on Tuesday could bring City back into the top four, depending on other results. With so much at stake a place in Europe’s elite competition and a potential farewell for a club legend the clash against Bournemouth promises to be a night filled with emotion, intensity, and perhaps a bit of history.
Updated: 03:43, 19 May 2025
