Guardiola hopes to seal UCL spot News

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Guardiola hopes to seal UCL spot

By Daily Sports on May 21, 2017

One point at Watford on Sunday will make certain of Manchester City's place in next season's Champions League, while a victory will take them into the group stages without the need for a play-off.

Securing qualification would ensure an upbeat end to a season that has been littered with frustrations for Pep Guardiola.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager arrived in Manchester last July with a record of 21 trophies in seven years as a coach, and was widely expected to continue that record of success in England.

Instead, he has ended the campaign with no trophies, and even if his team win at Vicarage Road to secure third place, it will still represent the lowest league finish of his managerial career.

One player under contract beyond the summer whose future still appears to be in doubt is Sergio Aguero, whose chances appear likely to be limited whenever Gabriel Jesus is fit.

Guardiola has suggested the only way the two can play together is with Aguero in the central striking role and Jesus out wide, which was how they lined up against West Brom.

An attempt to play them together as strikers at Middlesbrough last month failed, but Guardiola is willing to use both when he can accommodate them.

"The way we played against Middlesbrough was completely different to the way we played against West Brom," said Guardiola.

"Jesus was not an out-and-out winger, he was a little bit more inside, but just a little bit. Against Middlesbrough we played with two strikers.

"Gabriel in Brazil, when he was young, he always played down the sides. I said from the beginning that both can play together."

*Photo shows Guardiola.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 21, 2017