Man City Held by Brighton, Faces Tough UCL Fight

Guardiola: 'Nine Finals Left' as City Battles for Champions League Spot

Manchester City Held by Brighton, Faces Tough Road to European Qualification

Manchester, England – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the daunting challenge ahead as his team fights for a Champions League place, describing their remaining fixtures as "nine finals" following a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

City, the reigning Premier League champions, dropped crucial points, leaving them provisionally in fifth place with nine matches remaining. The result puts their European qualification hopes under significant pressure as the season enters its decisive phase.

"Until the end, I think so," Guardiola told reporters post-match. "Nine games, nine finals."

Despite the setback, the Spanish manager remains optimistic. "I'm always confident," he added. "I am a master. I find the positiveness in everything. I know it will be difficult."

Late Own Goal Costs City a Crucial Win

Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush found the net for City, seemingly setting them up for a vital victory. However, Brighton salvaged a dramatic point when City defender Abdukodir Khusanov inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, marking Brighton’s first-ever point at the Etihad Stadium.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler admitted that while securing a draw was a milestone, it came with mixed emotions. "It is a fact we won the first point here, but more a disappointing feeling that we didn't go home with three points," he said.

Haaland Breaks Another Record, Guardiola Faces Defensive Woes

Despite City's struggles, Haaland made history by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements. The Norwegian striker achieved the feat in just 94 matches—six fewer than the previous record-holder, former England international Alan Shearer.

"Not bad," Guardiola said with a smile, acknowledging Haaland's remarkable achievement.

However, the match also saw City register an unwanted statistic. Khusanov's own goal marked the 40th time Guardiola’s side has conceded in the league this season—the highest number for any City team under his management in a single campaign.

Reflecting on the defensive issues, Guardiola admitted his team struggled to maintain their lead. "We started the second half 2-1 up and had a good chance," he noted. "At the corner, we were sloppy, and they equalized. Then we were unstable. That is normal."

Even as City pushed for a winner, they were unable to break Brighton’s resistance. "We came back into the game and had really good moments," Guardiola added. "They had one clear chance, but we were there, and we pushed until the end. We'll take the point."

With nine matches left, every game is now crucial in City's bid for Champions League qualification, and Guardiola knows there is no margin for error.