Manchester City securing a top-four finish in the Premier League this season would be the equivalent to winning a trophy, says manager Pep Guardiola.A torrid run of form across English top-flight

Crisis averted then for Manchester City. Or perhaps that should read crisis postponed? The champions of England escaped the league phase and through a certain prism, there is a case to be made that Pep Guardiola's side are well into the post-nadir period of their season.

The serial-winning Catalan does not lose very often, but has still endured a number of harrowing days as a manager that he'd much rather forget