Matheus Nunes believes that securing Champions League qualification would be like winning the “Premier League trophy” for Manchester City, given their underwhelming season by their usual high standards.
The Portugal international scored a dramatic last-minute winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday, propelling Pep Guardiola’s side to third in the table, four points clear of seventh-placed Villa. With Liverpool on the verge of clinching the Premier League title and Arsenal securely in second place, five clubs are competing for the three remaining spots in next season’s Champions League.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, and Chelsea are also in the race for a top-five finish.
City, who began the season aiming for a fifth consecutive league title, endured a significant dip in form from late October.
However, they still have the chance to end their season on a positive note, with Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Forest at Wembley following closely after their crucial win against Unai Emery’s Villa.
“This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League,” Nunes said after scoring his first league goal for City in his second season at the club.
“I think it’s incredibly important for us, for the club, for the players, and for the mentality.”
The 26-year-old acknowledged, however, that while securing Champions League qualification for the 15th consecutive season and winning the FA Cup would be significant, it would not necessarily make for a successful campaign.
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“The club’s standards are far higher than this,” he said. “We know that we haven’t reached the level we want this club to be at.”
