Guardiola Hails Crucial Win at Everton as City Stay in Champions League Hunt
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players celebrated with emotion and relief at Goodison Park, following a vital 2-0 victory over Everton that could define their faltering season.
With late goals from rising talent Nico O’Reilly and seasoned midfielder Mateo Kovacic, City clawed their way to a win that keeps them firmly in contention for a Champions League spot in the 2025–26 campaign.
Having already surrendered their Premier League crown and exited the Champions League play-offs, City have endured a below-par season by their high standards. For much of the match on Merseyside, it appeared they might suffer another blow, until the dramatic late turnaround silenced doubts.
Asked about the significance of the win, Guardiola admitted to BBC Sport, “I would say big. We have five, six games left… it is massively important.” He emphasized the value of simply securing Champions League qualification, calling it “a huge achievement in this country and in this league.”
The Premier League’s strong European performance has granted an additional fifth Champions League spot next season, and this result strengthens City’s chances.
Avoiding a slip that could have seen them drop out of the top five, they now head into a decisive clash against Aston Villa—another top-five contender—with renewed momentum.
Reflecting on the team’s resilience, Guardiola remarked, “What these players have done for one decade, I am so grateful for… this season more than ever, in the toughest period for many reasons especially injuries.”
