Manchester City qualified for the Champions League for the first time, beating Tottenham 1-0 on Tuesday night and are now eagerly awaiting next Saturday as they try to win the FA Cup.

The victory came through a 30th-minute own goal by Peter Crouch, who had scored the lone goal at Eastlands last May that took Tottenham into this season’s Champions League at the expense of Man City.

Club manager Roberto Mancini pledged to take on the cream of Europe soon after the victory against Tottenham assured City of at least fourth place.

“When I arrived, I said in two or three years Manchester City will become one of the top teams in Europe,” Mancini said. “We have everything to do this. But I am happy for the supporters and the club first of all.”

Mancini conceded that the achievement will also relieve some of the pressure on his shoulders from the club’s owners, who are starting to see some return on the millions of pounds they have invested.

“When you have a target and get it, it is very important for your job,” added the Italian.

“We deserve to be in the Champions League because we were between first and fourth position all season.

“This is the first time in the Champions League and we have got it because the players wanted it. We have the players who deserve to play in it.”

The City boss played down the prospect of overtaking Arsenal and was more keen to concentrate on Saturday’s FA Cup final against Stoke at Wembley.

“If we didn’t throw three points out of the window against Everton last Saturday, we could probably finish third,” he said. “I don’t know how we lost this game.

“Now it is difficult. We have two games left. But now it is very important to think about the FA Cup final.”

“We are employed to give performances and get results,” City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. “Regardless of the money spent by the club, we are a team and we have shown that.

“If you watched the Champions League this season, Spurs have done brilliantly (reaching the quarterfinals) and it’s a shame for them that they can’t be there again as they brought something to it. But trips to Real Madrid, Milan and Inter, what more can you ask for?”

An investment of more than $1 billion in players by Sheikh Mansour has also put City within one match of ending its 35-year title drought.

Stoke is up next in the FA Cup final on Saturday, and City striker Carlos Tevez is set to be fit for the match at Wembley Stadium after making a late substitute appearance having recovered from a hamstring injury.

“We now need a trophy and that is this Saturday,” Hart said. “We got this tonight and we now need to give these fans a trophy.”

Crouch’s own goal came at the same end where he scored a year ago. City winger James Milner raced on to Adam Johnson’s short pass and crossed low into a crowded penalty area, from which Crouch stuck out a foot and turned the ball into his own net.

The goal ensured City will play in the European Cup for the first time since 1968 — 24 years before the tournament was revamped into the Champions League.

If City finish fourth in the Premier League, the team will have to contest a playoff in August to reach the group stage.

With two rounds remaining, City is two points behind Arsenal and five adrift of Chelsea. Manchester United need only one point to win the title.

“It doesn’t mean we are in the Champions League. We would have to qualify, so why not get Arsenal?” City captain Vincent Kompany said. “We feel they may drop points and we think we can get six points.”