Pep Guardiola rates Man City’s top four chances after Brighton draw | Football

Pep Guardiola is still confident Manchester City will finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League despite another slip-up against Brighton.

City had the chance to move back into the top four on Saturday afternoon at home to Brighton.

Last season’s champions twice took the lead through Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush but the Seagulls twice drew level with the hosts unable to find a winner.

The draw leaves Guardiola’s side sat in fifth place, a point behind fourth place Chelsea who can pull away with victory over Arsenal on Sunday.

Nottingham Forest meanwhile tightened their grip on third, moving away from the chasing pack with a  thumping win over Ipswich.

Just four points separate Chelsea, City, Newcastle, Brighton and Aston Villa in the race for fourth.

It’s unfamiliar territory for the team who have won the last four Premier League titles with Guardiola admitting post-match there was real anxiety around the Etihad amongst home supporters.   

‘Yes definitely,’ Guardiola said. ‘Everybody feels the pressure.

‘But it is what it is. We have to play better and after they will be back.

‘In the good moments they are there but, of course, they feel it when it is not good.’

City have nine games of their league campaign remaining, including a trip to Old Trafford to take on neighbours Manchester United on 6 April.

‘I’m always confident – in that I am a master. I do have moments (when) I can doubt but I find the right way, the positiveness in everything.

‘I know it will be difficult for many reasons but we have nine games, nine finals.’

City are still fighting in the FA Cup, taking on Bournemouth in thew quarter-finals at the end of March.

But winning the competition is only good enough to secure qualification for the Europa League, as Manchester United benefitted from last year.

City will be aiming higher having not missed out on Europe’s premier competition since first qualifying for the competition in the 2010-11 season.

MORE: Paul Merson makes confident Arsenal vs Chelsea Premier League prediction

MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe names the manager Manchester United should never have appointed

MORE: William Gallas names the Chelsea transfer target Mikel Arteta will refuse to sign