Manchester City's Shay Given Believes Champions League Qualification Would Make A 'Huge Statement'

Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes that finishing fourth or even third would show rivals the club are now serious challengers for future league titles.
City finished fifth in the Premier League last season as they lost out in the race for the last Champions League place to Tottenham thanks in part to a Peter Crouch goal at Eastlands, however with it looking likely that it will be the same two sides who battle it out again, City are very much in the driver’s seat.
Given, who has played second fiddle to Joe Hart this season, believes if City do reach the Champions League, Europe’s elite will sit up and take notice.
Speaking to Abu-Dhabi based newspaper The National, the Republic of Ireland international said: “It would be a huge statement to other European clubs.
"It would show we are going to be around for a long time and that we are going to be the team to watch over the coming years.
"The club would be able to attract more players in the summer and keep some of the ones we already have happy.
"Everyone wants to play in the Champions League. It would have been fantasy stuff to the fans a few years ago to think City might have teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid at Eastlands.
“Now there is a realistic chance of it happening."
However, if City hope to reach the biggest club competition in the world, their recent form will have to be reversed as the club have picked up just two wins in their last seven league matches.
Given continued: “We started the season wanting to win the league; you've got to aim high.
"It looks like we're going to fall a bit short of that. The next best thing is to get in the Champions League. Nobody wants to finish fourth; they want to finish at the top.
"But as the season has progressed we've dropped too many points and it looks as though the most realistic chance is the Champions League."