City earned a vital 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday (22.04.25) in the battle for a top-five finish in the Premier League but the manager doesn't think that securing a spot at Europe's top table will make up for a disappointing title defence.

Guardiola said: "This season has been bad. It doesn't matter whether we reach the [FA Cup] final, or qualification for the Champions League. The reality is that what determines, what makes you feel the season is good is the Premier League, not the Champions League, not FA Cups. It's that consistency in the Premier League.

"But it happens, sometimes you have bad seasons. The level of the teams [in the Premier League] is outstanding."

City earned an important three points thanks to a last-gasp goal from Matheus Nunes and Guardiola couldn't hide his delight at a win that could be pivotal.

The Spanish coach said: "I was so happy. I have to admit it.

"We have a lot of pressure for the club to go to the Champions League. If we win the next four games, it will have been so important."

City defender Ruben Dias stated that qualifying for Europe's top competition is the club's "main trophy" this season as he savoured the importance of the late win.

He told Sky Sports: "They are on the run to the top five with us. Special game to get three points. Four games to go and all of them will be massively important. We keep on going.

"We know how tight it is and how tight it will be until the end. I can't quantify how important today was.

"This means everything to us. We know exactly what circumstances we are in, top four or five means everything. This is our main trophy. We have the FA Cup and Club World Cup but this is everything to us."