Pep Guardiola on City's Champions League participation: "We're in trouble, of course we are"

Manchester City are going through a terrible time in all their competitions and it seems that they are on a slide from which, at least this season, they will not be able to get out

This Thursday, as part of the traditional Boxing Day celebrations, they drew at home to Everton, in what is their fourth game without a win in the Premier League and with a deep crisis of results that threaten, above all, their participation in the Champions League, where they are on the verge of elimination in the first round

The Citizens let the game slip away after the 'Toffees' goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved a penalty from Erling Haaland. The poor result increases the pressure on Spanish coach Pep Guardiola, who recently extended his contract after hesitating to renew with the club in search of a project with a national team

To try to save the tournament, Guardiola indicated that the club will try to strengthen itself with a significant investment in the winter market. However, he acknowledged that the team is at real risk of being eliminated from the Champions League in the league phase and could also break a spectacular run of 15 consecutive years participating in the top club competition in Europe.

However, the club ended the year with just one win in their last nine Premier League games and have already slipped to sixth place in the table, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, with two more games to play

Although the situation is serious, it still has time to be reversed, as it is three points behind Nottingham Forest, who are fourth in the table, the last place that gets a direct place in the Champions League

"When I said it before, people laughed. They said: 'qualifying for the Champions League is not a great success'. But I know it because it happens with the clubs in this country," said Pep before the match against Everton

They were dominant for many years and then they went many years without qualifying for the Champions League. The only team that has been in the Champions League in recent years has been Manchester City. Now we are in danger, of coursePep Guardiola

And he acknowledged that the squad has been weakened, so reinforcements are urgently needed: "We have to add players. No doubt. We have problems especially in the rear and in the center. I think we have to do it, but I don't know if it's going to happen. The transfer window in winter is not easy".

Poor result against Everton

In addition, the team has not won in its last 13 matches in all competitions, with Thursday's draw, and they could not take advantage of the home match against one of the bottom teams in the standings. They only had 20 interesting minutes and managed to take the lead with a goal from Bernardo Silva, but there was still a long way to go in the game.

In their first dangerous play, Everton took advantage of an erratic cross that Manuel Akanji let go, the ball reached the far post and Rico Lewis, who had to cover that area, was careless and gave way to Iliman Ndiaye who finished off on the bounce, to beat Stefan Ortega, with a great finish

The draw accentuated the insecurity in City's players, but they were presented with another clear opportunity when Mykolenko, in the second half, brought down Savinho in a clear penalty. Haaland asked for the ball, while Seamus Coleman approached him to try to distract him and Jordan Pickford stuck his tongue out at him.

Finally, Pickford guessed and saved the shot and in the counter-attack, although the Norwegian scored, the referee ruled it out for offside.

City will end the week 11 points behind the Reds and could be 17 if Liverpool win their games in hand and three points in the Champions League, where they are playing for a playoff place to stay alive in January against PSG.