City have set the benchmark in English football, as the first side to win four top-flight titles in a row, but they will relinquish their hold on the trophy this season.
They also fell in the Champions League play-offs – and for 84 minutes on Merseyside, it seemed like they were facing a real battle to compete in Europe’s elite club competition next term.
But two late goals from the emerging star Nico O’Reilly and experienced midfielder Mateo Kovacic gave City a hard-fought victory at Everton.
Asked how big the result was, Guardiola told BBC Sport: “I would say big. We have five, six games left and with the moment they had after [winning against] Nottingham Forest away, [and given that] Liverpool and Arsenal could not win here, it is massively important.
“I’ve tried to convince the players that qualifying for the Champions League is a huge achievement in this country and in this league.
“Being in the Champions League is enough, thinking that is not enough for us would be arrogant.”
