Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City could be in deep financial trouble next season if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
City's woeful form has seen them drop to seventh in the Premier League, with Guardiola no longer focused on winning the title and instead putting all his efforts into trying to stay afloat.
With a streak of one win from their last eight games town edging further and further away from the Champions League places, Guardiola admitted his side could be in deep trouble if they fail to qualify for Europe's premier competition.
“Finance is an issue, of course it is, but it's not only that,” said Guardiola. “Now we are in danger, of course we are.
“When I said before (that this could happen), people laughed. It's hubris: we won the Premier League.
“They said: 'Ah, qualifying for the Champions League is not a great success'. I know (it can happen) because it happens to clubs in this country. They were dominant for many years and, after many years, they didn't qualified for the Champions League.
“The only team that has been in the Champions League for the last 11 or 12 years (sic) has been Man City… if we don't qualify it's because we don't deserve it. Because we weren't prepared. because we had a lot of problems and didn't We solved those problems and found a way to win games. It's so important for every club and if we don't win away games.”
City will have the chance to close the gap on their competition on Thursday when they host Everton in early Boxing Day action.