Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City – Nunes

After a disappointing season by their high standards, Matheus Nunes claims that Manchester City's "Premier League trophy" would be Champions League qualification.

Pep Guardiola's team moved up to third position in the standings on Tuesday, four points clear of seventh-place Villa, thanks to a last-minute goal from the Portugal international against Aston Villa.

Five clubs are fighting for the three spots left in Europe's elite club competition for the upcoming season, with Liverpool poised to win the Premier League and Arsenal comfortably in second position.

Chelsea, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest are the other teams vying for a spot in the top five.

At the beginning of the season, City, who were vying for a seventh consecutive league title, saw a severe slump in play starting in late October.

With Sunday's FA Cup semi-final matchup against Forest at Wembley coming just after their crucial victory against Unai Emery's Villa, they may still finish the season on a positive note.

After scoring his first league goal for City in his second season there, Nunes declared, "This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League."

"In terms of everything, the club, the players, and the mindset, I think it's really essential for us."

However, the 26-year-old acknowledged that winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League for the 15th consecutive season would not equate to a successful campaign.

"This is much below the club's standards," he stated. "We are aware that the standards we desire do not exist."

"This is much below the club's standards," he stated. "We are aware that this club does not currently meet the standards we desire.
“But this is our reality now and we have to accept it. And we just have to go for it like it’s the Champions League, the Premier League trophy.”