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Guardiola thrilled to have Champions League fate in Man City's hands

Guardiola thrilled to have Champions League fate in Man City's hands

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Manchester City just need a draw in Sunday’s clash at Fulham to secure Champions League football for next season.

Pep Guardiola is relieved that Manchester City hold their Champions League fate in their own hands ahead of their last Premier League match of the season.

It has been a season to forget for City, who have gone without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s first campaign in charge back in 2016-17, though they did defeat Manchester United to win the Community Shield in August.

City lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last week, though they bounced back by comfortably beating Bournemouth 3-1 to move into third place.

They head into the final match of the season away at Fulham needing just a draw to confirm Champions League qualification, though an Aston Villa loss against Manchester United would also do the trick.

Guardiola admitted that despite a challenging season, he is pleased that his side are in control of their own fate.

"It’s better arriving in the last game knowing it depends on you, it depends on us, yes it’s better," Guardiola said ahead of Sunday’s clash.

"We have to look at ourselves. We need one point to be in the Champions League next season and we have to go to win against a top side.

"The situation is clear, to play in the Champions League we have to take a result there and that’s what we’re going to do."

While Guardiola was understandably happy that Rodri marked his return to the squad following an ACL injury that ruled him out of the majority of the season, he was quick to state that City’s struggles were not down just to the midfielder's absence.

He added: "Many things have happened this season. It was not just about Rodri, there have been many other challenges."

Fulham, meanwhile, have little to play for, with a spot in Europe out of reach.

They sit in 10th place, having defeated Brentford 3-2 in their last Premier League outing.

Fulham boss Marco Silva said that his side have been preparing for Sunday’s clash the same as they have for all their matches throughout the season.

He said: "Clearly, we have been working this week just like all the other weeks before. This is the last game of the season, but we try to get the same level of concentration.

"We reached 54 points for our football club, and we are going to fight and to enjoy the game. To embrace the challenge with our fans of playing the last game of the season against a top side."

Silva added that there have been discussions to renew the contracts of Kenny Tete and Tom Cairney, though Carlos Vinicius and Willian will likely depart the club in the summer.

"It is going to be the last time that [Vinicius and Willian] are going to be involved. Probably for both, it could be their last game with the Fulham shirt," he added.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fulham – Raul Jimenez

All 12 of Jimenez’s Premier League goals this season have either put Fulham ahead (nine) or drawn them level (three) in the match.

The Mexican is looking to score in three consecutive games in the competition for the third time, previously doing so in November 2019 and September 2024.

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

After recently returning to action following a lengthy injury lay-off, Haaland has featured in City’s last two Premier League matches.

He has netted on 21 occasions, including seven match-opening goals, leaving him third in the league's scoring charts this season.

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have won each of their last 17 meetings with Fulham in all competitions, the longest winning run one English league side has had against another in history.

In fact, Fulham are winless in 19 Premier League meetings with Man City (D3 L16), losing the last 14 in a row.

City have won their final Premier League game in nine of the last 11 seasons, with the exceptions being a 1-1 draw at Swansea (2015-16) and a 1-0 loss at Brentford (2022-23), while Fulham beat Luton 4-2 on the final day last season, having failed to win their last league game in any of the six previous seasons (D1 L5).

Mateo Kovacic starred for City in the high-scoring reverse fixture, netting a brace to lead them to a 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Fulham – 21.7%

Draw – 23.4%

Manchester City – 54.9%

Guardiola thrilled to have Champions League fate in Man City's hands

Manchester City just need a draw in Sunday’s clash at Fulham to secure Champions League football for next season.

Pep Guardiola is relieved that Manchester City hold their Champions League fate in their own hands ahead of their last Premier League match of the season.

It has been a season to forget for City, who have gone without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s first campaign in charge back in 2016-17, though they did defeat Manchester United to win the Community Shield in August.

City lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last week, though they bounced back by comfortably beating Bournemouth 3-1 to move into third place.

They head into the final match of the season away at Fulham needing just a draw to confirm Champions League qualification, though an Aston Villa loss against Manchester United would also do the trick.

Guardiola admitted that despite a challenging season, he is pleased that his side are in control of their own fate.

"It’s better arriving in the last game knowing it depends on you, it depends on us, yes it’s better," Guardiola said ahead of Sunday’s clash.

"We have to look at ourselves. We need one point to be in the Champions League next season and we have to go to win against a top side.

"The situation is clear, to play in the Champions League we have to take a result there and that’s what we’re going to do."

While Guardiola was understandably happy that Rodri marked his return to the squad following an ACL injury that ruled him out of the majority of the season, he was quick to state that City’s struggles were not down just to the midfielder's absence.

He added: "Many things have happened this season. It was not just about Rodri, there have been many other challenges."

Fulham, meanwhile, have little to play for, with a spot in Europe out of reach.

They sit in 10th place, having defeated Brentford 3-2 in their last Premier League outing.

Fulham boss Marco Silva said that his side have been preparing for Sunday’s clash the same as they have for all their matches throughout the season.

He said: "Clearly, we have been working this week just like all the other weeks before. This is the last game of the season, but we try to get the same level of concentration.

"We reached 54 points for our football club, and we are going to fight and to enjoy the game. To embrace the challenge with our fans of playing the last game of the season against a top side."

Silva added that there have been discussions to renew the contracts of Kenny Tete and Tom Cairney, though Carlos Vinicius and Willian will likely depart the club in the summer.

"It is going to be the last time that [Vinicius and Willian] are going to be involved. Probably for both, it could be their last game with the Fulham shirt," he added.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fulham – Raul Jimenez

All 12 of Jimenez’s Premier League goals this season have either put Fulham ahead (nine) or drawn them level (three) in the match.

The Mexican is looking to score in three consecutive games in the competition for the third time, previously doing so in November 2019 and September 2024.

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

After recently returning to action following a lengthy injury lay-off, Haaland has featured in City’s last two Premier League matches.

He has netted on 21 occasions, including seven match-opening goals, leaving him third in the league's scoring charts this season.

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have won each of their last 17 meetings with Fulham in all competitions, the longest winning run one English league side has had against another in history.

In fact, Fulham are winless in 19 Premier League meetings with Man City (D3 L16), losing the last 14 in a row.

City have won their final Premier League game in nine of the last 11 seasons, with the exceptions being a 1-1 draw at Swansea (2015-16) and a 1-0 loss at Brentford (2022-23), while Fulham beat Luton 4-2 on the final day last season, having failed to win their last league game in any of the six previous seasons (D1 L5).

Mateo Kovacic starred for City in the high-scoring reverse fixture, netting a brace to lead them to a 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Fulham – 21.7%

Draw – 23.4%

Manchester City – 54.9%

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