With seven league matches remaining, the Blues currently sit one point behind fourth-place Chelsea and Newcastle in fifth - with the Magpies’ current position in the standings likely to provide a route into European football’s premier competition, too.
What’s more, in late-April we lock horns with Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley as we plot an eighth triumph in the competition throughout our illustrious history.
Next up for City as we enter the business end of the campaign is a meeting with Crystal Palace on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, with kick-off set for 12:30 (UK).
And, although we will be without Phil Foden for the visit of the Eagles, Guardiola says each of our remaining matches will provide the pressures of a showpiece occasion as we look to finish the term on a high.
“I’d love to be in the Champions League [still], but I’ve said many times we’re miles away to compete against the elite in Europe this season.
“Always we have been, but this season no - that’s the reality, we have more long weeks to train good. Hopefully they can.
“Every single game is a final. It’s not complicated, we don’t have 15 or 20 games left, we have seven games left, so it’s a final every single game and we have to win a lot of games to qualify because Newcastle have just one game a week, Aston Villa’s quality.
“All the teams are involved, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Fulham is there. There are a lot of teams who’ll be there and you have to win games.
MATCH PREVIEW | CITY V CRYSTAL PALACE
“It’s not much more complicated than that. Want to be in the Champions League next season and live the Tuesday and Wednesday with the elite you have to win almost all the games.
“It’s not a much tougher schedule because we have Crystal Palace then after Goodison Park and playing a really good Everton again.
“I was impressed with their rhythm against Arsenal in the last game. Then after Aston Villa. So it is what it is. Accept the challenge.”
Watch the second part of Pep’s pre-Crystal Palace press conference in the video player above!
