Former Metropolis and England star Steve Howey says Metropolis nonetheless have our Champions League future in our personal arms.
With 9 video games of the league season to go, the race for a top-four end – and with it a assured place in subsequent season’s Champions League – couldn’t be tighter.
Saturday’s draw left Metropolis in fifth spot within the Premier League on 48 factors, a degree behind fourth-placed Chelsea and with Newcastle, Brighton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth additionally within the hunt.
As a result of success of English sides throughout Europe this time period, fifth-place might effectively additionally safe a ticket to subsequent time period’s Champions League.
Nevertheless, talking on Saturday’s newest version of Matchday Reside, particular visitor Howey backed Guardiola’s aspect to remain the course and seal an outright top-four end to make sure we’re again at Europe’s high desk subsequent time period.
“Metropolis are within the driving seat [for Champions League football],” the previous Metropolis and Newcastle central defender declared.
“Wanting on the supervisor’s feedback earlier than the sport he spelled it out – our Champions League future is in our arms, however each sport will probably be a cup ultimate between now and the tip of the season and that’s true.
“It’s in our arms and it’s as much as us to get the victories to make sure we get that spot.
“For me, I do suppose the highest 5 groups as they’re now will stay there – however possibly in a distinct order
“I do suppose we are going to finish in third or fourth to ensure we clinch the spot, however it’s tight on the high.
“By way of Saturday’s end result, Brighton are a superb crew – they’ve had a extremely good season and are on a superb run of type proper now.
“They’ve a superb supervisor and play actually good counter-attacking soccer, particularly away from house
“There are all the time going to be powerful video games, and I feel in the long run 2-2 was a good end result.”
Amongst the positives from what was a compelling conflict was one other glorious show from January signing Omar Marmoush.
The Egyptian worldwide striker gained the primary half penalty that was transformed by Erling Haaland earlier than then despatching an outstanding strike to ship Metropolis in 2-1 forward on the break.
For Howey it was simply additional proof of the craft and starvation that marks the 26-year-old as a vastly thrilling addition to Metropolis’s attacking armoury.
“I like him,” the previous England worldwide mentioned of Marmoush.
“I appreciated what I noticed of him earlier than he got here to Metropolis – he’s very, very direct and can shoot from wherever.
“I feel that’s sensible – sure, typically that clearly gained’t come off however typically it does, and it catches goalkeepers out.
“The aim he scored on Saturday was an excellent strike. He whipped it away from the goalkeeper and gave him completely no probability
“And he did the defender to win the penalty for Haaland to attain
“He’s a really, excellent participant and he’s one I’m trying ahead to seeing far more of.”