Pep Guardiola is “absolutely confident” that Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League again.
City face Bournemouth on Tuesday in their final home Premier League game of an underwhelming season.
They sit in sixth, one place and one point behind Aston Villa, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, though have a game in hand.
City were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, though that has not dampened Guardiola’s confidence.
“I am thinking we are going to qualify. My thoughts and the way I think – I think that. We need four points. That is the main target. I am absolutely [confident of qualifying],” he said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“It is important. For the last 13 or 14 or 15 years we want to be in the Champions League but if we are not there then we don’t deserve it and will be in the Europa League. It is what it is.”
The match will also be Kevin De Bruyne’s final home game for the club and Guardiola suggested that the midfielder will get what he deserves when asked whether he will start after playing the full game against Palace on Saturday.
“We want to win the game so we can qualify for the Champions League next season – this is what Kevin wants, it couldn’t be otherwise,” said Guardiola.
“I am going to decide what is the best for us to win the game against Bournemouth, that is for sure.
“Kevin will get what he deserves, and what he deserves is the best moment and the best compliment for his incredible trajectory.
“What he has done along with some incredible other legends in this club will not be possible in the 10 to 15 years since Sheik Mansour took over the club and run this club to reach another level.”
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola applied some perspective to the Cherries’ own hunt for a place in Europe, while also congratulating Palace on winning the FA Cup.
The Cherries are 11th and must make up the two points on eighth-placed Brentford, while also hoping that Chelsea win the Conference League and finish seventh or Newcastle United finish sixth.
“Even if it means we have less chances now to qualify for Europe, I think we have to congratulate Palace because a team that is not the six/eight teams that are fighting for titles winning a title like the FA Cup is good overall for the league and for football,” said Iraola.
“We are playing away against City in a game where they are in need to play for Champions League [qualification]. It is not the scenario you want but it’s the one we have right now and we have to try to go there and play our game.
“It’s true that after the FA Cup final the chances to get into Europe are very limited.”
One final home game
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PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester City – Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne has been directly involved in seven goals in his nine Premier League starts against Bournemouth (three goals, four assists).
If he plays, this will be his 142nd and final league appearance at the Etihad Stadium, with only David Silva (160) playing more times at the ground in the top flight.
Bournemouth – Evanilson
Evanilson has scored six goals in his last nine Premier League away starts for Bournemouth, including five in his last five.
The Brazilian has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, including eight in his last 14 appearances.
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN
City have won all seven of their Premier League home games against Bournemouth – only Arsenal (10 vs Stoke) and Manchester United (8 vs Wigan) have a better 100% home win rate against an opponent in the competition.
Prior to Bournemouth’s 2-1 victory at home to City in November, they had taken two points from their 20 previous league meetings against them.
City have won their final home league game in 10 of the last 11 seasons (D1), including each of the last eight. Their last defeat came in the 2012-13 campaign against Norwich (2-3).
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have lost their final away league game in both of the last two seasons.
City come into this on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League (W5 D3), while they have also won four of their last five games.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester City – 59.8%
Draw – 20.4%
Southampton – 19.8%
