City´s Arsenal blow sparks Champions League fears for Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal could harm their Champions League chances.

Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta masterminded a superb 2-0 win for the Gunners, who ended a run of seven consecutive defeats to City thanks to a goal in each half from Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and a tireless defensive display.

City’s underwhelming Premier League campaign will now amble to a conclusion in dead rubbers against Watford and relegated Norwich City over the coming week, with the focus shifting to Real Madrid’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on August 7.

Speaking to BT Sport after the match, Guardiola suggested a two-week break before Zinedine Zidane’s LaLiga winners aim to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at the last-16 stage would not work in his side’s favour.

“Now we have two weeks,” Guardiola said. “We wanted to play the [FA Cup] final one week before the Madrid game to be in rhythm.

“We missed this chance.”

3 – Arsenal had three shots on target in the opening 40 minutes – as many as they had managed in their three previous meetings with Manchester City combined. Unleashed. #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/27QYzkDaMo

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 18, 2020

Even if City make the most of their advantage over Madrid, the prospects of them coming through next month’s mini-tournament of one-off games in Lisbon next month would feel remote given their record against high-class opponents this season.

Arsenal joined Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Wolves (twice) and Manchester United (three times) in recording victories over the 2018-19 domestic treble winners and Guardiola did not spare his players.

“We didn’t play good,” he said. “The only regret is we didn’t play in the first half like we did in the second.”

Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez all went close for City after half-time, although the latter’s 54th-minute strike proved to be their only attempt on target.

“On the day when you have to play good, we didn’t,” Guardiola added.

“We started slow and without the way you have to play these kind of games. We’ve done it many times. We were ready, but today we did not do it.

“We were not good. In these games you have to be good to go through.”