Pep Guardiola makes shocking Champions League qualification claim

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has surprisingly claimed that his team "don't have the squad" to be considered favourites to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Thanks to the competitive performance of English clubs across UEFA's three tournaments this season - notwithstanding City's Champions League exit before the round of 16 - the Premier League's top five are guaranteed to qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

Despite this increased allotment, Guardiola has major doubts about City's qualification aspirations - largely because of the injuries littered across his squad.

"It's better to have five [places] instead of four in the situation we have," Guardiola told assembled media on Friday. "But there are seven contenders, so it will be until the last moment.

"We don't have the squad, all season, we haven't had the squad. We have three defenders out that played the final of the Champions League, and we will have a striker out until the final few games, so we don't have the squad."

Guardiola confirmed that Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji would all be sidelined for City's Premier League lunchtime clash with a royally in-form Crystal Palace on Saturday. Erling Haaland is also in the club's treatment room with an ankle injury which is expected to keep him out of contention until the middle of May.

"The players are still injured. It happened all season. We adapt. You can see it as a problem or as a challenge, you can see the position we're in as a disaster, but it could be worse," Guardiola reasoned.

"I'm really satisfied with the way we've handled the situation, being where we are. We have a chance to qualify for the Champions League."

Heading into the final stretch of the campaign, City sit sixth. They are one point adrift of Chelsea in fourth and fifth-placed Newcastle United, who have the luxury of a game in hand.

According to Opta's supercomputer, City are expected to sneak into the top five before the conclusion of the current campaign, boasting a 50% chance of securing Champions League qualification with Chelsea tipped to miss out.

However, those three challengers also have to contend with late surges from Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa and a Liverpool-toppling Fulham.

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