Pep Guardiola has insisted that his Manchester City side are ready for the challenge of trying to secure Champions League football for next season despite enduring an injury-hit campaign.
After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Man City find themselves sitting a whopping 21 points behind champions-elect Liverpool at the summit, with a disappointing drop-off in form and several fitness issues contributing to their decline.
After playing out a dull goalless stalemate with rivals Manchester United last weekend, City's Champions League hopes remain in the balance, but they are one of a number of clubs who have been boosted by the news that finishing fifth in the Premier League will secure a place at Europe's top table next season.
Man City head into Saturday lunchtime's clash with Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium sitting in sixth spot and one point behind both Chelsea in fourth and Newcastle United in fifth, the latter of whom have a game in hand.
Rodri (ACL) Nathan Ake (foot), John Stones (thigh), Erling Haaland (ankle) and Manuel Akanji (abductor) are all nursing injuries, the former of whom continues to build up his fitness in individual training after almost seven months out, and Guardiola has confirmed that none of the quintet will return this weekend.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: "[They are] still injured, yeah still injured, we'll see."
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Guardiola insists City "have to be optimistic" in CL run-in
Guardiola and co are keen to not dwell on the injury problems and the Catalan has emphasised how motivated his group are for the "challenge" to secure a place in the Champions League.
"[Injuries] happened all season, we adapt," said the Citizens boss. "You can see it as a problem or a challenge, the position is a disaster or it could be worse.
"I'm happy with the way we handled the situation and where we are. The challenge is to qualify in the Champions League next season, the home games, difficult ones we have and tomorrow, we have a team in incredible top form in the last month or two months.
"Always it's difficult with Palace here, I admire a lot the manager (Oliver Glasner) and the way they play. The talent and physicality there are no doubts, but we have to be optimistic to finish well this season."
After spending around £180m on four new players in January, Man City will continue their squad rebuild in the summer and are set to recruit a number of younger players to address the age profile of Guardiola's current side which includes 12 players aged 29 and over, some of whom are considered injury-prone.
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Guardiola confirms Man City are "working" on potential summer arrivals
While Guardiola's primary focus is on ending the current campaign strongly, the Man City boss was questioned about recruiting more players when the summer transfer window opens, but he has stated that the size of his squad will not change dramatically.
"I don't know what will happen [in the summer]," said Guardiola. "Of course the club is working, but we won't have 45 players in the squad, it's not sustainable for the emotion of the team.
"Except Kevin [De Bruyne], they all have a contract and we will see how they behave, how we are. We're going to see."
Man City intend to prioritise transfer targets as soon as new sporting director Hugo Viana is fully embedded into his role at the Etihad, with the Portuguese to initially work alongside outgoing chief Txiki Begiristain during a transition period.
With De Bruyne having now announced that he will be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season, and with uncertainty still surrounding the future of Galatasaray-linked Ilkay Gundogan, who is out of contract in the summer but has a one-year extension clause which could be triggered, Man City are expected to target at least one new midfielder ahead of next season.
Recent reports have linked Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White with a move to the Etihad, the latter of whom is allegedly valued at £100m.
Additions at full-back and centre-back are also set to be high on the agenda for the Citizens, with Juventus's Andrea Cambiaso believed to be on of their top targets.
Oliver Thomas
