What next for Manchester City as stumbling season hits Real trouble?

Pep Guardiola will want to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while City also retain hope of winning the FA Cup and Club World Cup.

Published Feb 20

Manchester City are out of the Champions League after defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday. Here, the PA news agency looks at where they go next.

What are their aims for the rest of the season?

With City’s hopes of winning a fifth successive Premier League title also seemingly over, focus will shift to securing qualification for the Champions League next season. There is a possibility fifth place may be sufficient this season, and there is still the FA Cup to play for, but finishing in the top four, with its rock-solid guarantee, will be Pep Guardiola’s immediate priority.

How much will this cost them?

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe put Manchester City to the sword (John Walton/PA)

How important is the Club World Cup?

Manchester City v Fluminense – FIFA Club World Cup 2023 – Final – King Abdullah Sports City Stadium — Manchester City won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023 (PA)

Could it be a busy summer for City then?

Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, left, is a reported target in the summer (Peter Byrne/PA)

What about the 115 charges?

Manchester City deny any wrongdoing over the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League regulations (Nick Potts/PA)