PEP: CUP GLORY WON'T ALTER FAILURES

PEP GUARDIOLA refuses to accept that winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League will rescue Manchester City's season.

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

City are 21 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and failed to get beyond the last 16 in Europe after a run including a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth.

They head back to the Vitality Stadium today with a semi-final place at Wembley up for grabs.

But Guardiola (left) insists that lifting the 19th trophy of his nine-year Etihad reign and booking a place in the Champions League will only be a consolation for what has been a painful campaign.

Guardiola said: "Of course, it would be nice to arrive in the final of the FA Cup and win it and to qualify for the Champions League.

"I am pretty sure that right now it would be seen as a big success, but the season has been poor.