Guardiola says a Champions League win won’t be enough to silence critics

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By Martin Graham | 23rd Feb 2023

Pep Guardiola plays down talk from his critics about his stellar career achievements. Europe has few coaches who have achieved as much success as Manchester City’s coach, Pep Guardiola. He has an impressive trophy haul from three top European Leagues.

However, critics of the brilliant Spanish coach always point out his failure to win the Champions League since he left the Barcelona team which had the likes of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, among other star players.

During his coaching spell at Bayern Munich, he was able to win the domestic titles available, but he didn’t win the Champions League. He then moved to the Etihad in 2016 to take over the Manchester City project.

So far, he has managed to dominate the English Premier League and won an impressive number of domestic titles, but the Champions League still eludes him as he has once more failed to win it with City.

Will a win ever be enough to silence critics?

The main criticism that has trailed his illustrious career is that Pep can’t win the Champions League without the help of Lionel Messi. Critics also say he doesn’t have what it takes to cross the finish line because he lets the pressure complicate his tactics.

Guardiola is set to take another shot at the Champions League title this season with Manchester City scheduled to kick off its knockout stage campaign with a fixture against RB Leipzig in Germany.

Surprisingly, Pep believes that no matter what he does, the critics will never be satisfied, and many will always see him as a failure.

Speaking in a news conference at the Red Bull Arena, Pep said: “I would say that if my career finishes tomorrow, literally tomorrow, I would be more than blessed and grateful for what I have done with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and here, in Europe and in other competitions.

“I could never have expected to have the career I have had in a short time. Not just for the success we had, but also the way we play — I love it. I could not ask for more. We want to do our best and get to the quarterfinals but what is going to happen is going to happen. At the end, destiny is already written.

“Sometimes we have been close, sometimes not. I have the feeling that what we have done, all of us, is going to fail. Whatever I have done personally in the past or in the future, I am going to fail. Nothing will be enough.”

In the last five seasons, Manchester City have made it to the quarterfinals, and this time Pep is preparing to qualify without his midfield talisman, Kevin De Bruyne, due to illness.

“It is what it is, unfortunately during a season sometimes it happens,” said Guardiola.

“Kevin didn’t feel good right after the game in Nottingham at the weekend and Ayme did not feel good yesterday. Other players are going to play. It happens sometimes.

“Right after the draw I knew it, I felt it — that they [Leipzig] would be a really tough opponent. From my experience, we should be confident against any opponent, but the reality is completely different.”

Guardiola will face a Leipzig side that have lost only one game since September, and the team have the experience to face Pep’s side after beating City last season in the group stage.