Pep Guardiola says he is a ‘master’ at remaining confident after Man City drop more points | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says he remains confident in Man City’s chances of qualifying for Champions League football next season.

City hosted a red-hot Brighton side in a game with huge ramifications in the race for the Champions League but were unable to secure a victory as Brighton earned their first ever point in the Etihad Stadium in a 2-2 draw.

Erling Haaland gave Guardiola’s side the lead early on before Pervis Estupinan’s equaliser.

But after Omar Marmoush had put City back ahead, Abdukodir Khusanov put through his own net meaning the points were split.

Guardiola was asked afterwards if he sensed nervousness around the stadium and responded:: “Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Everybody feels the pressure.

“That is what it is. We have to play better and after they will be back.”

The Catalan was not critical of the home crowd as he sympathised with City’s supporters. When asked if it is down to the players to lift the crowd, he agreed: “Absolutely. In the good moments they are there but of course they feel that it is not good and they might not qualify.

“Everybody feels it, smells it, everybody knows it. Even you realise it.”

The result was another blow to City’s hopes of Champions League qualification. They have been in the Europe’s elite competition in each of the last 14 campaigns bu will have to step up their performances if they are to make it 15 successive years.

Despite the disappointing result, Guardiola was not too upset and still believes his side will qualify for the Champions League. He declared: “I’m always confident, I’m a master at that.

“I have moments where I can doubt but I find the right way, the positiveness in everything.

“I know it will be difficult for many reasons. Like what happened with Bernardo today and Ederson was in top form, now he is injured again. Many things happen and we know it.

“So, yeah, it is nine games, nine finals. Next game is Leicester here.

On the game itself Guardiola said: “It is what it is. Our performance was much, much better than in the Nottingham Forest game.

“I think we were there. We had chances and our spirit was much, much better than in Nottingham. There we were so passive, today we were aggressive.”