Former Manchester United forward Paul Scholes has claimed that Pep Guardiola would not have agreed to become Manchester City manager if he had foreseen the club's current predicament.

The Sky Blues were three points off the top of the table when the Spaniard was confirmed as Manuel Pellegrini's successor, but enter their final round of Premier League fixtures uncertain of Champions League qualification.

"It is going to be tricky for Pep if he is coming into a club that is not in the Champions League," Scholes told The Times. "If it had been nearer the time, I don't think he would have come.

"The Guardiola [announcement] didn't help City at all. It undervalued the manager and the City players packed up."

City, who won the League Cup during Pellegrini's final season in charge, will take on Swansea City in the league on Sunday.