Pep Guardiola confident Manchester City will beat Bournemouth and strengthen top-five chances

Pep Guardiola is confident Manchester City can bounce back from their FA Cup final disappointment and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

City dominated for long spells against Crystal Palace at Wembley but were unable to convert possession into goals with Eberechi Eze’s first-half strike proving decisive.

The action from yesterday’s #FACup final 📺 pic.twitter.com/YH4XYJoTKL

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 18, 2025

It means Guardiola’s side will finish the season without a trophy for the first time since his debut campaign at the club in 2016-17, although they still have plenty to play for.

Wins over the weekend for fellow Champions League hopefuls Chelsea and Aston Villa saw City slip to sixth, level on points with seventh-placed Nottingham Forest, who were also victorious.

 

 

Bournemouth game takes on huge importance

City’s game in hand comes tomorrow night when Bournemouth visit the Etihad. A win would take them up to third and in pole position to clinch one of the top five positions.

Guardiola was optimistic his players would step up when required.

He said: “If we are not in the Champions League, it’s because we don’t deserve it. And we’ll play the Europa League. So it is what it is.

“I’m thinking we’re going to qualify. My thought is I’m going to think of that. And if I think that, I think that. And I think we need two victories or four points to qualify. That is my target.”

Asked if he was confident, he added: “Absolutely.”

One final home game 👑

🤝 #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/gLKVGf0ZF6

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 18, 2025

Guardiola coy on De Bruyne’s involvement

The game will be Kevin De Bruyne’s final appearance at the Etihad before he departs at the end of the season.

The Belgian played the full game at Wembley which, under normal circumstances, would make him unlikely to start against the Cherries.

But Guardiola was giving little away when asked about the 33-year-old.

He added: “We want to win the game so we can qualify for the Champions League next season – this is what Kevin wants, it couldn’t be otherwise.

“I am going to decide what is the best for us to win the game against Bournemouth, that is for sure.

“Kevin will get what he deserves, and what he deserves is the best moment and the best compliment for his incredible trajectory.

“What he has done along with some incredible other legends in this club will not be possible in the 10 to 15 years since Sheik Mansour took over the club and run this club to reach another level.”

Guardiola said he had not yet had chance to watch the FA Cup final back but insists his side played well.

He said: “We played a really good final. Not enough to win it and we have the last two games. We need four points to be in the Champions League. This is enough and everyone has to be aware of that.”

After Bournemouth, City go to Fulham on Sunday.