Man City in Danger of Missing Champions League, Says Guardiola

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester City - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2024, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester City - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2024, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
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Man City in Danger of Missing Champions League, Says Guardiola

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester City - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2024, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester City - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2024, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Manchester City are at risk of missing out on next season's Champions League due to their recent dip in form, manager Pep Guardiola said.

City, who are looking to qualify for Europe's top club competition for a 15th straight season, have won just one of their last eight Premier League games and are seventh, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Guardiola's side are four points behind Nottingham Forest, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification berth.

"When I said before, people laughed. They said, 'qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success'. But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country," Guardiola told reporters ahead of their home match against Everton.

"They were dominant for many years and after there were many years not qualifying for the Champions League. The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City. Now we are at risk, of course we are."

After hosting Everton later on Thursday City travel to face Leicester City on Dec. 29.



Kyrgios Is Back in Tournament Action for 1st Time in 18 Months at Brisbane International

Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
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Kyrgios Is Back in Tournament Action for 1st Time in 18 Months at Brisbane International

Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)

Nick Kyrgios will make his return to tournament tennis at the Brisbane International when he takes on 21-year-old Giovanni Perricard of France.

It will be the first tour-level appearance by Kyrgios since the Stuttgart Open in June 2023. The 29-year-old Kyrgios has been mostly sidelined with career-threatening wrist and knee injuries since the 2022 US Open quarterfinals.

Kyrgios is also entered in the Australian Open beginning Jan. 12. It would be his first Grand Slam singles tournament in more than two years.

Kyrgios, who won the Brisbane International in 2018, will partner Novak Djokovic in doubles in Brisbane. Djokovic beat Kyrgios in the 2022 Wimbledon singles final.

Djokovic is the No. 1-seeded player at the Brisbane International and will play Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the opening round following the singles draw held Saturday.

Kyrgios and Djokovic are in the top half of the singles draw and are not slated to play each other until the semifinals should they both win through.