Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has made a rallying call to his players, insisting that Champions League qualification will not “fall from the sky”, after suffering a 1-0 loss at fellow top four contenders Nottingham Forest.
The Cityzens were on the receiving end of their ninth league loss of the campaign – the most since the 2019-20 season – after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s winning goal in the 83rd minute.
The return to Europe’s premiere club competition could now be in doubt for City, as they must now find a way to overturn their stunning decline.
“We have to win games. We don’t win enough games in a row to be secure. We have 10 games left, we have to win a lot of games to qualify. This is how it is,” he said.
“To find a way we have to play better. We have to do something, it doesn’t come from the sky. Of course the situation is what it is.
“Ten games left, starting against Brighton next Saturday, international break afterwards and we’ll see what happens.”
A season known with a number of individual errors from City, Ederson’s mistake allowed Hudson-Odoi’s winner, as former Chelsea attacker fired his shot at the Brazilian goalkeeper’s near post.
City sit fourth and are four points behind third-placed Forest and only one above fifth-placed Chelsea, who play host to Leicester on Sunday.
Despite their situation, Guardiola refused to point fingers, specifically at Ederson for their latest loss.
“It is what it is, we can’t blame a player, I prefer to praise than blame,” he said.
“I didn’t see the action. It happens in football, nothing to say.”
