Manchester City

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The race for Champions League football is heating up with only four spots up for grabs. Only confirmed team in Europe's premier competition for next season are the champions Liverpool.

Arsenal have been chasing the champions all season long but a deep run in Europe has seen them take their eye of the ball domestically. Meanwhile, Manchester City and Newcastle United closed the gap on the North London club and are within striking distance.

Clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest all very much still in the race but one team will miss out. Let's have a look at which clubs can decide their faith this weekend -

Arsenal will clinch a Champions League spot if they beat Newcastle on Sunday.

A draw will also be enough unless Chelsea and Aston Villa both win on Friday, and Manchester City avoid defeat on Tuesday. But because the Gunners' goal difference is significantly better than the sides below them, a draw will realistically ensure a top-five spot, regardless of results elsewhere.

If they lose, Arsenal will qualify for Europe's elite competition should Villa fail to win or if both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest fail to win. This takes into account that Forest host Chelsea on the final day and both sides cannot catch the Gunners.

Because of Arsenal's goal difference, the only scenario in which they could retain a realistic chance of missing out on Champions League qualification would be if they lose and both Chelsea and Villa win.

A win will guarantee Newcastle a Champions League place UNLESS Chelsea and Aston Villa both win and Manchester City avoid defeat. But because of their goal difference advantage over Villa, a win will realistically ensure a top-five spot for Eddie Howe's side, regardless of results elsewhere.

A draw will be good enough if:

- Aston Villa lose (as Forest play Chelsea on the final day and both sides wouldn't be able to overtake the Magpies)

- Chelsea lose and Nottingham Forest fail to win

Should Newcastle and Villa both draw, Eddie Howe's side would be realistically assured of Champions League qualification because of their goal difference. The same applies if the Magpies lose, Villa also lose and either Forest or Chelsea fail to win.

Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League if they defeat Bournemouth and Villa fail to win, OR City claim victory and both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest fail to win.

Because of City's goal difference, a point against the Cherries will realistically be enough if Chelsea or Forest fail to win and Aston Villa lose.

Chelsea can't mathematically clinch a top-five spot before the final day – but if they win and both Villa and Forest lose, their superior goal difference would make it all but certain. Should Chelsea win, Villa lose and Forest draw, the Londoners would have to lose their last game (against Forest) by at least four goals to be caught.

Note - Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest currently occupy sixth and seventh in the Premier League table and will need results to go their way even if they win the remainder of their matches.

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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is set to be the first Austrian to take charge of a team in the FA Cup final, while opposition manager Pep Guardiola has won the FA Cup twice and the League Cup four times in his time in England so far.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has failed to score in any of his five appearances at Wembley, with three of those coming in the FA Cup. This is the most games Haaland has played for City at a specific venue without finding the net.

Palace forward Eddie Nketiah has been involved in a goal in each of his past three FA Cup appearances (two goals, one assist), all as a substitute. He has also won the FA Cup once before, playing eight minutes from the bench in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea in 2020.

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Kyle Walker has praised Pep Guardiola for making sure the families of the players and the staff were present when the team celebrated their successes.

Walker, at AC Milan on loan, won six Premier League titles and a Champions League, along with numerous other cups, while playing under the tutelage of Guardiola.

"Pep [Guardiola] is massive with that," Walker said on The Kyle Walker Podcast. "I think every trophy.... when we lift the trophy, he makes sure that all the families, all the kit men's families, their kids and everyone get to come on to the pitch, take a picture with the trophy - because it's not just our trophy.

"We had all worked extremely hard throughout the season to get to where we wanted to get to. And nine times out of 10, we achieved that dream, especially in the Premier League, and they needed to enjoy the moment just as much as we did."

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When you are a neutral, we all like an upset in the FA Cup final, but it is a big task for Crystal Palace to beat Manchester City on Saturday.

Since some heavy defeats against City and Newcastle, Palace seems to have turned a corner. They beat Aston Villa in the semi-final in a fantastic day at Wembley for them. They have showed a little bit of consistency and momentum from that.

But this is Palace's first FA Cup final in nine years and only their third overall. Whereas for Manchester City, a trip to Wembley is a regular thing at the end of the season. That know-how and experience can play a big part on these big days - that energy, that excitement of players, at times it can drain a lot out of you. When you are playing against a team that is used to these environments, it can be quite difficult.

Palace will certainly have changed their style and tactics since those two defeats where they conceded 10 goals. They will be defensively more resilient, they will be harder to beat, but I think it will still be a difficult task. However, it is an FA Cup final and you never know what is going to happen. Who expected Manchester United to beat City last year? Not many of us.

Oliver Glasner's side come into this with some momentum and good confidence, while you can look at Manchester City against Southampton, arguably City did dominate and just could not get the ball in the back of the net, so could that be something Crystal Palace look at?

With Ebere Eze and Jean-Phillippe Mateta on transitions, they are players that can make a real difference. Tactically it will be a really interesting one, but we know Manchester City are cup final kings.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen's 22-year-old forward Florian Wirtz over a potential summer move. (Bild), external

However, Liverpool have also made contact with Wirtz to express an interest in signing the playmaker this summer. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Arsenal, are circling 24-year-old Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, amid reports of the Brazilian falling out with club staff. (AS - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has won the Premier League 2 player of the season award.

The 19-year-old becomes the first defender to win the award and follows Carlos Borges, James McAtee and Liam Delap as the fourth City player in five seasons to claim the gong.

Captain Simpson-Pusey led City to the top of the PL2 table and the side will face Southampton in the play-off final.

His performances have led him to City's first team, making his senior debut in the Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham in October, and going on to make five further appearances for Pep Guardiola's side.

"To receive this award in such a competitive league with lots of amazing talent is a huge honour for me," said Simpson-Pusey.

"I feel like this has been my best season representing City and I'm really glad it's helped the team win the PL2 league and reach the play-off final, which we are excited to be competing in."

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Wednesday is the 14th anniversary of an important day in Manchester City's recent history - the 1-0 victory over Stoke City in the 2011 FA Cup final.

Yaya Toure's winner secured City's first major trophy for 35 years and a first under the club's current owners.

Of course, many more trophies have followed in the years since.

City are back at Wembley on Saturday to face Crystal Palace in the 2025 final and will be hoping to lift the FA Cup for the eighth time in the club's history.

Nottingham Forest will make at least five signings this summer with Manchester City's 22-year-old English midfielder James McAtee and Ipswich striker Liam Delap among those they have scouted. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on Man City's 2025-26 home kit.

Here are some of your comments:

Brett: I am not impressed with a lot of the recent Man City shirt designs, including this new one for 2025-26. They seem to be trying to create something different just for the sake of it, rather than concentrating on the aesthetic appearance of the product. A lot of the older classic designs worked for a reason; because the shirt-makers and designers used tried and tested designs and colour combinations which were visually appealing.

Phil: Lovely and imaginative, but every season cannot be right. The cost of following your favourite team has become too expensive, sorry.

Jason: Not paying £85, becoming a rip-off now.

Dave: It's very retro, I like it.

Franek: To be honest, I was never interested in home kits... and that is still the case. This looks more like a shirt for a casual walk in the park rather than a shirt to play 90 minutes of high-intensity sport.

Ken: It should remind people to put their seatbelt on.

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

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It has been a slow and painful decline for Phil Foden this season.

From the remarkable highs of winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title, largely inspired by his own contributions in front of goal, his first senior top-flight Player of the Season award and other individual accolades, to being on the fringes of Pep Guardiola's plans, nobody quite knows what has gone so terribly wrong for the Stockport-born playmaker.

Many, including myself, thought in time we would see a natural return to form and the usual excellent standards set by Foden himself as the ongoing season went on, but it seems as though more the opposite has taken place.

A somewhat rare start was handed to the 24-year-old against Southampton on Saturday as Guardiola looked to make use of Foden's eye for goal by placing the Englishman up alongside Erling Haaland in the attacking third.

Instead, we saw a showcase of a player severely lacking in fitness, bereft of confidence, falling short when it came to a tactical understanding of what was being expected of him, and quite evidently a player crying out for an extended break from the game.

And with Manchester City closing out their season in the coming weeks, albeit with a crucial top-five finish on the agenda and an FA Cup final coming up, perhaps Foden should be granted an opportunity to step away from duties with the club until the start of next season. Yes, that does include the Fifa Club World Cup.

Having won everything available to him all by the age of just 23, with the weight of the world on his shoulders and an expectance to succeed like no other Manchester City academy player has had in the past, perhaps this is a concerning example of burnout.

There is not one onlooker who wants to see this Foden decline continue any further than it already has, and Manchester City simply must do what is absolutely best and allow one of their prized assets an extended break to regain that hunger and energy for the game he most certainly loves.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

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Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic spoke to BBC Radio Manchester about the prospect of winning the FA Cup on Saturday: "If we end up in the top four and win the FA Cup, I think it is a positive [season] in the end. I have been in the Premier League for a lot of years and it is never easy to be in the top four - when you are at Manchester City you take it for granted because the consistency is so high.

"This year has been a different journey but it is part of the growth and character of the team. We have shown lately that we can deal with the pressure, we now have to secure our spot in the Champions League and win the FA Cup.

"The FA Cup is the oldest cup competition in football and it would mean a lot to win it. I have been in the final four times and never won it, which shows how difficult it is to win. We will try our best to show we are a great team and we can win a trophy in an average season."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions on the transfer window.

Franek: Kevin de Bruyne leaving has been a big hit for us Manchester City fans. What I want to know is who can City buy to replace the huge hole that he's left? The ideal option for me would be Florian Wirtz but I want your opinion.

Simon: I think Wirtz would be a great option, Franek.

With Xabi Alonso leaving Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid, there is a deal to be done, although Bayern Munich are also keen and they have a long history of buying big names from German rivals.

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White is also on Pep Guardiola's radar, although it remains to be seen how easy it is to deal with Evangelos Marinakis.

De Bruyne will leave a huge hole but the reality is he is not the same player as he was and City need to move on.

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Manchester City have revealed their home kit for the 2025-26 season.

"For the first time in the club's history, the home kit features the famous 'sash' - the diagonal stripe design made iconic on previous City away days," a club statement said.

The club added that the new kit will be worn when City participate in the Fifa Club World Cup this summer.

What do you make of the kit, City fans? Let us know here

Manchester City will target a summer move for 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, who will only consider a bid in excess of club record £57m. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Napoli have held talks with Kevin de Bruyne's camp about signing on a free transfer when his contract expires with Manchester City in the summer. (Sky Switzerland - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Erling Haaland's return from injury did not go to plan.

The Norwegian had just a single shot in Saturday's goalless draw against Southampton – a header from a corner in the 92nd minute - as Manchester City slipped up against the league's bottom side.

This was his first game since suffering an ankle injury in the FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth on 30 March.

Haaland scored an equaliser in that game but his return was much more underwhelming, with an xG of just 0.05.

Only once has he had fewer shots in a Premier League game this season – that came at Wolves in October when he failed to register a single shot in City's 2-1 victory.

And with the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to come on Saturday, Haaland will be looking to bounce back to form at Wembley.

Despite Haaland's disappointing return to the City starting XI, he has still managed 21 Premier League goals this season.

Only Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak have outscored the 24-year-old and Saturday was only the second time since January that he has played for City and not been involved in a goal.

Former Swansea City defender Ashley Williams spoke on Match of the Day about the lack of help Haaland received from his teammates, stating: "I think it was a frustrating afternoon for him [and he will] be disappointed.

"He looked hungry and he needs the service. The quality wasn't there for him and there is not much he can do.

"He looked sharp and he's only as good as the service he's got."

If you missed Match of the Day, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester City striker Divin Mubama will not be part of the club's Premier League 2 squad next season but it is not clear whether he will be sent out on loan or granted a permanent move.

The jewel in West Ham's FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2023, 20-year-old Mubama joined City the following year after his contract expired at the London Stadium.

Mubama made two senior appearances for City this season - adding to his 18 under David Moyes at West Ham - and scored against League Two Salford in the FA Cup third round in January.

However, he has spent most of the campaign in PL2 and took his tally in the end of season play-offs to five with two second half efforts in Friday's semi-final win over Manchester United.

City's Elite Development Squad head coach Ben Wilkinson knows Mubama will not be around next term. But he is also aware the next steps for any young striker are hazardous.

"We've got players in our team we'd expect not to see next year because they're ready to make that step and he's probably one of them," said Wilkinson.

"It's trying to help with that next step and guide them in the right direction.

"We've had it the last three, four, five years with some real high potential players from the 18s and 21s and now they're playing on our TV screens every other week.

"The problem is it has been notoriously hard for young strikers to go out on loan and succeed in the Championship or League One. You used to have someone next to you and now you're a 19, 20-year-old number nine up against two big centre halves and the service might not be great."

Wilkinson cites the example of Liam Delap, who had patchy loan spells at Stoke and Preston around the same age Mubama is now, before going to Hull last season, where he scored eight times in 32 appearances.

That persuaded Ipswich to take a chance by signing him permanently in a £20m deal last August, since when Delap has gone on to become one of the most coveted young strikers in the Premier League.

Wilkinson added: "Liam was outstanding at this level, then had two or three loans and his numbers weren't outstanding.

"Now he has grown into his body and has been outstanding in the Premier League this year.

"Often the first move isn't as successful as you'd like it to be but that is a good thing because here they live in this bubble of academy football where we are successful and have a lot of the ball - Divin tonight had four good chances to score but will he get that in a Championship game? It's a tough one."