By Seyi Babalola
Matheus Nunes believes Champions League qualifying will be Manchester City’s “Premier League trophy” following a disappointing season by their high standards.
The Portugal international netted a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday, propelling Pep Guardiola’s side to third position in the standings, four points clear of seventh-place Villa.
With Liverpool on the brink of the Premier League title and Arsenal sitting comfortably in second place, five clubs are battling for the three remaining places in Europe’s top club competition next season.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, and Chelsea are the three teams in contention for a top-five finish.
City, who were chasing a sixth consecutive league title at the start of the season, experienced a severe drop in form in late October.
However, they may still complete the season on a high note, with Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final versus Forest at Wembley after their crucial victory 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 massively important for us, in terms of everything, the club, in terms of the players, the mentality.”
The 26-year-old admitted though that Champions League qualification for the 15th season running and FA Cup glory would not equal a good campaign.
“The club’s standards are much higher than this,” he said. “We know that there is not the standards we want this club to be at.
“But this is our reality now and we have to accept it. And we just have to go for it like it’s the Champions League, the Premier League trophy.”