‘My period here won’t be complete if we don’t win it’: Man City boss Pep Guardiola admits Champions League is ‘the trophy that we want’ after six failed attempts… but insists ‘it’s not the only reason’ he extended his contract
Pep Guardiola admitted that his spell in charge at Manchester City would not be complete without lifting the Champions League.
City have reached the final once, with a semi-final defeat and three quarter-final exits and the Catalan suggested that his legacy will be measured by their results in Europe’s premier competition.
It is the first time Guardiola – who penned a new two-year contract extension during the World Cup – has opened up on his own expectations on the continent.
Pep Guardiola claimed he needs a Champions League title to ‘complete’ his tenure at Man City
Guardiola watched on as his side were eliminated in the semi-finals of the competition in May
‘I admit that it’s the trophy that we want, and my period here won’t be complete if we don’t win it,’ Guardiola said.
‘But it’s not the only reason I extended. I will do everything for the club. Of course it’s the trophy that we don’t have and we’ll try to do it.
‘I have the feeling they’ll get it sooner or later, we’ve tried in the past. We will try with all our strength.
‘It’s difficult for me to reject the club. I don’t have enough words to express my incredible gratitude to this club.’
City face RB Leipzig when the Champions League returns at the last 16 stage in February but have a raft of tough domestic fixtures to navigate beforehand.
The Spaniard will be hoping his side can overcome RB Leipzig in the Champions League
City also reached the final in 2021 but were defeated by Premier League rivals Chelsea
The Premier League champions play Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and leaders Arsenal before Leipzig – and host Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Thursday.
Guardiola urged fans to ‘be supportive of the team unconditionally’ after both clubs threatened bad behaviour with stadium bans in a bid to dampen a toxic rivalry.
While his players are slowly coming back to training, Guardiola expects to be without Julian Alvarez over the festive period after Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
‘We’re incredibly happy for him, congratulations to him and Nico Otamendi,’ the City boss added. ‘It was well deserved. Julian, we are delighted that he played a lot and his contribution was amazing to the team.
Guardiola was full of praise for young striker Julian Alvarez after his World Cup performances
‘He will have a week, 10 days off. There are many games. He will have a break. I don’t know exactly the date. Maybe before the New Year.
‘I have the feeling that those who were at the World Cup are in better condition than players who weren’t.
‘The players who didn’t go lack the rhythm, the ones who come back have been competing and trained every day. Players who were not at the World Cup can get the rhythm tomorrow so we have to do it with what we have.’
Alvarez managed to score four goals for Argentina on their way to lift the World Cup title
