Manuel Pellegrini has warned his Manchester City stars to keep their eyes on the prize as they aim to secure a Champions League place at the expense of Manchester United, while champions Leicester will bring down the curtain on their astonishing season at Chelsea on Sunday.
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City had to settle for winning just the Capital One Cup this season and yesterday got the point they needed to qualify for the Champions League having gone out in the semi-finals this term.
“I know I’m not a famous manager so it’s been important for me to have this possibility to work in the Premier League and I’m very proud”.
“The only option we had today was that we needed to get the point to get Champions League for next year”.
Pellegrini described the occasion as a “special day”, but admitted that he would be sad to leave the club.
“I’m not just talking about Guardiola, I’m also talking about myself, in the first year I arrived here”.
Leicester vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has already urged the Premier League champions to behave on their return to Thailand.
“I’m sure that, being in a hard league, Guardiola will be prepared to do well in it”.
“You’re preparing for it during your whole career – you are playing Champions League against English teams and seeing English games every week”. Spurs could still finish third, but since the top three advance automatically to the group stage, White Hart Lane is assured of at least three Champions League home matches next season.
Jurgen Klopp has tried to say all the right things, but Liverpool’s Premier League trip to West Bromwich Albion will be overshadowed by their looming Europa League final appearance.
“I’m very happy because I won my first challenge”, Guidolin told Swansea’s official website.
Swansea in the meantime have had a so-so season, with the biggest news for them ahead of this game being the extension of Francesco Guidolin’s contract at the Liberty Stadium.
Pellegrini said February’s disclosure that Guardiola would be succeeding him this summer created an awkward atmosphere inside the dressing room. Despite resting several key players, they were sharp from start to finish and it was important that a couple of key players showed glimpses of their better form as Ki Sung-Yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis both found the net.
“That makes it more hard to reach the first four places and that’s why it will be more hard in years to come to reach the top four”.
It has been a unusual season, in many ways, but as usual, the Premier League has served up dramatic moments week in, week out. “Swansea are a hard team when you play away”, he said.
“I have spoken with my chairman (Huw Jenkins) and we start with a good team”.
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Confusion followed as referee Mike Dean had seemingly over-ruled the goal for offside but this gave home supporters false hope as he was merely pointing to the centre spot.
