Sunday 21 May 2017 18:20, UK
Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City will come back stronger next season after they secured Champions League football with a final day thrashing of Watford.
City needed a point at Vicarage Road to finish in the top four but an emphatic 5-0 win sealed their passage to the group stages of Europe's elite-club competition.
Despite ending a season trophyless for the first time in his managerial career, Guardiola praised City's achievement and set his sights on guiding "one of the best groups he had ever coached" to further glory.
"This is one of the best groups I've ever coached in my life," he told Sky Sports.
"They didn't give up this season, even in the tough moments when we couldn't win or got knocked out of the Champions League, how we reacted was fantastic. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be with these guys.
"In the end we want to be champions but qualifying for the Champions League means a lot for the club and the future and next season. I can assure you we will come back stronger."
City ended the season 15 points adrift of Premier League champions Chelsea, while their bid for silverware in Europe ended with a quarter-final elimination at the hands of Monaco.
As well as trying to bridge the gap on Chelsea next term, Guardiola expressed his desire to help City compete with Europe's elite.
"We made a very good thing during the season," he added. "Yes, we will be judged for the results, but we made good things.
"The gap to Chelsea and Tottenham is too big so next season we have to play better and work harder to be closer to them. We are going to try.
"In the end we are in Europe on the biggest stages which is good for a club that hasn't been in Europe for the best part of 30 years, unlike United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
"City have now achieved that over the last seven years but the gap to compete with the elite in Europe is even greater.
"We are going to try and achieve that against the best teams in Europe, who will be at the Etihad."
