Pep Guardiola lays down gauntlet in Manchester City's UEFA Champions League push ahead of Crystal Palace clash - 'A final every single game'

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Pep Guardiola assessed the situation facing Manchester City in what is now a very congested battle to secure a top-five place and UEFA Champions League qualification. The City boss also praised Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton's progress from plying his trade in the Championship with hometown club Blackburn Rovers to being included in England's squad for Euro 2024.

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Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will need to win almost every game if they are to secure UEFA Champions League football next season.

The reigning Premier League champions currently sit sixth, a place outside the top-five places, ahead of hosting Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on Saturday – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Just two points separate Aston Villa in seventh and Chelsea in fourth, with Newcastle United and City sandwiched in between those two sides.

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He said: "If you want to be in the Champions League next season and play Tuesday, Wednesday, you have to win almost all the games.

"Now it’s not very complicated. We don’t have 15, 20 games, now we have seven games left. It’s a final every single game.

"We have to win a lot of games to qualify, because Newcastle play just one game a week, and the quality of Aston Villa, and all the teams are involved, Chelsea and Nottingham [Forest]."

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and manager Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Crystal Palace FC at Craven Cottage on February 22, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

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Guardiola was also quizzed about Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, and the Spaniard waxed lyrical about the 21-year-old's qualities.

When asked about Wharton, he said: "An excellent holding midfielder. He was in the national team already.

"The impact has been really good, coming from the Championship to the Premier League, brilliant left foot, a really good player."

Turning attention back to his own squad, and Guardiola continues to be hampered by a series of injuries to his star players.

Nathan Ake, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Erling Haaland and Rodri are all on the treatment table, and Guardiola is pleased with the way in which his players have adapted to the lengthy list of absentees.

When asked if any of those injured stars could return on Saturday, he replied: "[They are] still injured, yeah, still injured, we’ll see. [Injuries] happened all season, we adapt.

"You can see it as a problem or a challenge, the position is a disaster, or it could be worse. I’m happy with the way we handled the situation and where we are.

"The challenge is to qualify in the Champions League next season, the home games, difficult ones we have and tomorrow we have a team in incredible top form in the last month or two months.

"It's always difficult with Palace here. I admire a lot, the manager [Oliver Glasner] and the way they play, the talent and physicality, there are no doubts. But we have to be optimistic to finish well this season."

Guardiola admits he is none the wiser in terms of what will happen to the squad this summer, but expects some outgoings.

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"I don’t know what will happen [in the summer]," he explained. "Of course, the club is working, but we won’t have 45 players in the squad. It’s not sustainable for the emotion of the team.

"Except Kevin [De Bruyne], they all have a contract, and we will see how they behave, how we are. We’re going to see."

How to watch Manchester City v Crystal Palace

Manchester City take on Crystal Palace on Saturday, April 12. Kick-off is at 12:30 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ starting from 11:00.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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