Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has thrown a subtle jab at struggling neighbours Manchester United.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of his side’s Saturday fixture against Everton at Goodison Park, Guardiola said that as poor as City have been this season, it could have been a lot worse, such as dropping as low as 14th place.
“It’s not a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League,” said Guardiola. “You could be in a much lower position in the Premier League if you have done few good things like we have done in these four, five months.
“People say now we are fourth. Yeah! It could be 11th, 12th, 13th, or 14th. I don’t have any doubt of that.
“So I take it like that, we have not been good but it’s in our hands.”
Amorim’s Manchester United have spent much of the season in 14th place after a string of poor performances, conflicts with players, and financial crisis.
However, United still have a way back into the Champions League next season. Having scored three goals in seven minutes near the stoppage time of extra time to achieve an outrageous 5-4 comeback victory over Lyon, the Red Devils head to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where a trophy lift could see them back among Europe’s elite next season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are in the thick of a keenly contested race for a top five finish in the Premier League. In fifth place with six matches to go, City are currently four points behind Newcastle in third place and one behind Chelsea and Aston Villa in sixth and seventh respectively.
