Pep Guardiola insists that Manchester City won’t go all in for the Champions League trophy and put their domestic dominance in doubt.
Manchester City became the first team in a decade to win successive Premier League titles last season. Along with that they also won an unprecedented domestic treble.
The Premier League used to be dominated by the red colour of Manchester for many years. But the tides have turned now and the Premier League is being currently dominated by their city rivals. Both Manchester and Premier League is now blue.
But one thing about Manchester City is that the Champions League trophy has always eluded them. Pep Guardiola has won the Champions League two times before but hasn’t been able to win it with Manchester City.
Guardiola feels the consistency that has returned top-flight points hauls of 100 and 98 in consecutive seasons is too valuable to sacrifice for the Champions League trophy. He said: “The Champions League is an important tournament, difficult to win. But I don’t want to go to the casino and gamble everything I have in my pocket for seven games [the Champions League knockout stages]. I don’t want it.”
“I think I want to be happy during 11 months. It makes me happy, the Premier League, every game in the cups. When I win, the days after I am happier. I go to the restaurants better, I feel better, I work better with my players. That’s what it gives me.
Am I going to wait until February to play seven games with everything on black colour? From my point of view, it’s too risky.”
“Normally, when you have history behind it helps a lot. We are trying to build it and I think in Europe we will be closer when we win more Premier Leagues and Premier Leagues and Premier Leagues. I would sign right now to do what we did last season again. Right now. Not winning the Champions League and four titles [including the Community Shield] again in this season.”
Despite, last season being a strong campaign for Manchester City, no player from City was present in the FIFA Best Awards shortlist. Guardiola said: “It is because Manchester City is in this position the last decade. We are new in these situations. I cannot imagine Real Madrid and Barcelona winning four titles and not one single player being there [on the shortlist]. I don’t think there is one player who made a better season than Bernardo Silva last season, even winning [The Nations League] with Portugal.
This club, for example, in eight years won four Premier Leagues. It is quite remarkable. And never in these four seasons was one of our players nominated the best in the league.
Huge respect for Mohamed Salah [who won the PFA and FWA awards in 2017-18], but Kevin De Bruyne that season, guys, when we made 100 points was above and beyond the normal situations.”
In recent times only Liverpool have come close to dethrone Manchester City. Last season they lost the Premier League by just 1 point. But was able to put that sorrow behind them by winning the Champions League.
Guardiola has also shown a great sporting rivalry. He said: “Why can we not share the glory? We would like to win the Champions League – big respect to Liverpool. Winning the Champions League is so difficult, so, so complicated. That’s why winning the Champions League gets all credit. But why is it higher than what we have done over 11 months?
I’m pretty sure Liverpool would have liked to win the last Premier League after 30 years not winning the Premier League. Both teams were fantastic last season. Why do you have to say this team is better than the other one? Both were good.”
Pep Guardiola hopes to emulate the same success which they achieved last season and also add the Champions League trophy in their trophy cabinet this season.
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