Omar Marmoush remains confident that Manchester City can overcome their current struggles and secure a place in next season’s Champions League despite their latest setback in the Premier League.
City’s hopes of closing the gap on the top four took a hit after they were held to a 2-2 draw against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The defending champions, who have dominated English football in recent years, find themselves outside the Champions League qualification spots after conceding two equalisers in a tightly contested match.
Marmoush had restored City’s lead after Pervis Estupiñán’s free-kick canceled out Erling Haaland’s early penalty, but an unfortunate own goal by Abdukodir Khusanov meant the points were shared.
Despite the uncharacteristic struggles, Marmoush, who joined City in January from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59 million, remains optimistic about their prospects.
“It’s a challenge, but we’ll do everything,” said the Egyptian winger, who has netted four goals since his arrival. “We need to show more quality, have more confidence, and play like City knows how to play. I think we’ll be fine.”
Reflecting on the match, Marmoush described it as “very intense and open with a lot of spaces,” expressing disappointment that City failed to claim all three points.
A share of the spoils against Brighton 🤝
Watch the highlights ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/BHncWJWafu
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 15, 2025
Brighton, who sit just one point behind City in the table, also have European aspirations following their strong Europa League campaign last season.
With England potentially gaining an additional Champions League spot, a fifth-place finish could be enough to secure qualification.
Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood shared his club’s ambitions, highlighting their determination to secure another season in continental football.
It would be a great achievement to finish in the top five or top seven,” he said.
As the Premier League season progresses, both City and Brighton will be looking to gain crucial points in the race for European football, with every result proving decisive in the battle for Champions League qualification.
