Pep Guardiola hails Man City’s ‘big win’ over Everton and says securing Champions League football would be ‘success’ for his side this season

Pep Guardiola hailed his Manchester City side after they scored two late goals to beat Everton and continue their push to secure Champions League qualification.

‘I would say big (win),’ said Guardiola. ‘We have five or six games left, so to win here at Goodison Park with the momentum they have of winning at Nottingham Forest and Liverpool and Arsenal couldn’t win here so it’s massively important.’

And the Man City boss stressed that it would be a ‘big success’ for his side to qualify for the Champions League, insisting that he has never doubted their character.

‘The character is always you have it when you win and if you don’t win, you don’t have it. What these players have done for a decade, I’m so grateful whatever happens,’ said Guardiola.

‘In the toughest period for many reasons – especially injuries – we were more or less stable in terms of keeping going. Of course, we are miles away from Liverpool and Arsenal but tonight we sleep fourth. Now it is in our hands.

‘We need a final on Tuesday (against Aston Villa). Three games at home, two away and hopefully we can achieve this big success to qualify for the Champions League.’

Youngster Nico O’Reilly broke the deadlock from full back with his fifth goal of the season

Guardiola declared securing Champions League football would be a ‘big success’ for his side

And Guardiola was full of praise for left back Nico O’Reilly after the 20-year-old broke the deadlock with his fifth goal of the season.

‘He’s an attacking midfielder. When you play him as a full back he’s quick on transitions and he’s always there. Look at Plymouth and the two assists at Bournemouth,’ said Guardiola.

‘It looks like in this team if you play left back, you score goals. Josko (Gvardiol) before and now him. With the impact, we are so grateful because he’s not a left back.’

Everton now have just two games left at Goodison Park before they move to Bramley Moore next season and Guardiola admitted that he will miss the ground.

‘Yeah, my friend Ronald Koeman destroyed me the first time I came here. I remember perfectly,’ he said. ‘It’s a typical stadium for the Premier League.

‘I remember Stoke in my first season, the locker room and this kind of vibe. But clubs grow and the new stadium will be magnificent. It will be missed.

‘It’s been an honour to come here for many years. I was a little boy on the pitch before the game watching the goals of Gary Lineker and saying “wow, this is English football”. Now, it changes a little bit but it still remains something special.’