Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023.Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023.
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. | AFP via Getty Images
Manchester City’s hopes of a top-five finish received a major boost on Thursday night
Manchester City’s hopes of finishing in the top five earned a major boost on Thursday night as Brentford secured a shock 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
A win would have moved Forest back into third and pushed City down into fifth. However, just days on from losing the FA Cup semi-final to Pep Guardiola’s side, Nuno Espírito Santo’s men slipped to a surprise home loss to the Bees.
Kevin Schade scored after 44 minutes before Yoane Wissa made it 2-0 with 20 minutes of normal time remaining. The defeat was surprising in nature as it was only Forest’s fourth home defeat of the campaign, while it was just the sixth victory on the road for Brentford.
Newcastle United, City, Chelsea, Forest and Aston Villa are all aiming for a top five spot but two teams are poised to miss out. As things stand, Newcastle are in third with 62 points while City are just one point behind them in fourth.
Chelsea and Forest both have 60 points but Chelsea are in fifth with a better goal difference. Aston Villa are back in seventh place with 57 points while their goal difference is significantly lower than all of the sides above them.
Man City have chance to put marker down v Wolves
This weekend, City are first up of the teams chasing a top-five spot. They host Wolves at the Etihad Stadium at 8pm on Friday night. The Molineux club have won their last six games in the Premier League and were victorious on their last visit to Manchester as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on April 20.
Looking ahead to the challenge that awaits his side, Guardiola said that City’s focus is now on qualifying for the Champions League and not the FA Cup. He said: “Now we can’t be distracted for anything else.
“It’s Wolves, Wolves and Wolves. The rest we have time to think about it and day by day, see in the training sessions, [and speak with the] the physios, doctors**.**
“Now, it’s a final every single game. We make an incredible effort. The last eight games unbeaten since Nottingham Forest away, we make just two draws against United and Brighton. I’m pretty sure all of them want to play [in the final. When you reach a final of the FA Cup, everyone wants to be involved.
“It depends how they feel and how they recover. Now it’s a period we have to have certainty. It’s not already qualified here. What we are going to say is we are going to make the right decisions.”
Man City final four games v rivals
A draw or win on Friday will put City into third before any of their rivals play. A victory moves them onto 64 points while a draw puts them level with Newcastle but above Eddie Howe’s side on goal difference.
Man City remaining games: Wolves (H), Southampton (A), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A).
Newcastle United remaining games: Brighton and Hove Albion (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Everton (H).
Chelsea remaining games: Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), Manchester United (H), Nottingham Forest (A).
Nottingham Forest remaining games: Crystal Palace (A), Leicester City (H), West Ham (A), Chelsea (H).
Aston Villa remaining games: Fulham (H), Bournemouth (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H), Manchester United (A).
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