With five or six games left in the season, winning at Goodison Park at this crucial juncture was "massively important," Guardiola asserted. "The lads have given me everything for a decade, and this season more than ever," he added, expressing his gratitude for their unwavering efforts.

The victory propels City into fourth place, with Nottingham Forest, who have played a game less, now sitting fifth. Guardiola acknowledged the close competition, but remains hopeful, "We are miles away from Liverpool, but we'll see what happens tonight with Newcastle and Villa, then Chelsea and Forest. It's in our hands now."

With a final at home against Aston Villa on Tuesday and two more games to follow, Guardiola is optimistic, "Hopefully we can achieve the success of qualifying for the Champions League."