The extra European Performance Spot for 2025\/26 was triggered courtesy of Arsenal\u2019s victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UCL quarter-final. Guardiola\u2019s City are in sixth place with a one-point gap to Newcastle United, having played one game more than the Toons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The City boss believes it will be a close run thing given the amount of teams vying for entry into the elite European competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWell we are better, it\u2019s better to have five teams instead of four. There are seven or eight contenders. This is the situation but there are lots of contenders. It\u2019ll be until the last moment,\" said Guardiola in the press conference ahead of the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Defenders Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake have all missed matches in recent weeks along with striker Erling Haaland and long-term absentee Rodri. However the Spaniard looks at the injuries as challenges rather than as a problem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Asked if any of those players will be back to face the Eagles, Guardiola said,\u201c[They are] still injured, yeah still injured we\u2019ll see. Injuries] happened all season, we adapt.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou can see it as a problem or a challenge, the position is a disaster or it could be worse. I\u2019m happy with the way we handled the situation and where we are,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Guardiola has suffered two losses to Palace on home soil during his time at the helm, alongside two draws and four victories. The Eagles are known to put up a stern test at the Etihad and Guardiola does not expect anything less.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou can see it as a problem or a challenge, the position is a disaster or it could be worse. I\u2019m happy with the way we handled the situation and where we are,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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