Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes has admitted that securing Champions League qualification has become the club’s new major objective this season, describing it as their “Premier League trophy” after a turbulent campaign.
Nunes, 26, delivered a dramatic late winner on Tuesday night against Aston Villa, helping City climb to third in the Premier League standings. The victory at the Etihad Stadium moved Pep Guardiola’s side four points clear of seventh-placed Villa, bolstering their hopes of a top-five finish.
With Liverpool on the cusp of clinching the Premier League title and Arsenal solidly in second place, Manchester City find themselves in an intense battle alongside Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa for the three remaining Champions League spots.
The defending champions, who began the season chasing a historic fifth consecutive Premier League crown, have struggled with inconsistency since late October, leading to a significant drop in form. Despite the setbacks, City still have the opportunity to salvage their season, with an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest looming at Wembley this weekend.
Reflecting on the current situation, Nunes stressed the importance of qualifying for Europe’s elite competition.
“This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League,” he said after netting his first league goal for the club during his second season.
“It’s massively important for us, for the club, the players, and the mentality moving forward.”
However, Nunes was clear that meeting this revised target would not erase the disappointment of falling short of the club’s lofty standards.
“The club’s standards are much higher than this,” he admitted. “We know we haven’t met the expectations we set at the start of the season. But this is the reality we are facing now, and we must approach it with the same hunger and determination as we would a Premier League title or the Champions League.”
Manchester City will be hoping to cap off the season with both Champions League qualification and a domestic trophy, as they aim to end a difficult campaign on a positive note.
