Champions League Qualification Is Now Manchester City's Main Goal, Says Matheus Nunes Matheus Nunes has admitted that qualifying for next season’s Champions League now holds the same value for Manchester City as winning the Premier League title, following a challenging campaign. The 26-year-old Portuguese midfielder scored his first league goal for the club with a dramatic late winner in City's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday. The result propelled Pep Guardiola’s side into third place, intensifying the race for a top-five finish, while Villa slipped to seventh. City, however, are set to relinquish their Premier League crown after a four-year reign at the top, and their hopes of continental glory were dashed early following an exit in the Champions League play-off stages. “This is our Premier League trophy now — to qualify for the Champions League,” said Nunes. “It’s incredibly important for us — for the club, for the players, and for our mentality. We know what playing in the Champions League means. Now that the title is out of reach, securing that qualification is our number one goal.” Manchester City have qualified for the Champions League in 14 consecutive seasons, and are well-positioned to extend that streak. Their remaining fixtures — against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Fulham — offer a favourable run-in as they aim to cement a top-five finish. In addition to their league pursuit, City also have the opportunity to reach a third consecutive FA Cup final. They face Nottingham Forest in the semi-final this weekend, providing a potential silver lining to an otherwise underwhelming season. City’s campaign has been disrupted by a series of injuries, forcing players like Nunes into unfamiliar roles. The midfielder has recently been deployed at right-back, a position he’s still adjusting to. “I’m still adapting and hoping to improve with each game,” he said. When asked if securing a top-five finish and reaching an FA Cup final would make the season a success, Nunes was honest: “Of course not. We know the standards at this club are much higher than that. This isn’t the level we aim for, but it’s the reality we’re facing now. So we have to treat this like it’s our Premier League trophy and give everything.” “It’s a journey — a rollercoaster,” he added. “We have to be ready for that. The experienced players here understand how vital Champions League qualification is, and that has to be our mission now. We’re fully focused on achieving it.”