‘My legacy is exceptional’: Pep Guardiola refuses to be defined by Champions League
Pep Guardiola has claimed his legacy at Manchester City is “exceptional” whether or not he wins the Champions League. The Catalan needs one more victory to secure a fifth Premier League trophy in six seasons and became the first manager to do a domestic treble in 2018-19, as well as setting a top-flight points record of 100 the previous year. But this is his seventh attempt to win the Champions League with City, who lost the 2021 final and host Real Madrid on Wednesday after drawing 1-1 in the first leg of their semi-final in what Guardiola accepted is one of the most significant games of his reign. Guardiola believes his side do not need to do anything incredible to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side but feels he will be remembered more for the quality of football his side have played. “My legacy is already exceptional already,” he said. “We have been here many times, we are not stupid to know how important it is. It is one of the most important [matches], with the competition and the rival. “I’ve told the players to enjoy the moment, we are incredibly lucky to be here. It’s in our hands. It depends on us. We don’t have to do anything exceptional, [just] win one game to reach the final and we’ll do everything. I have incredible feeling about the players: whatever happens, thank you so much to them for getting us here again. “My legacy: there has been a great generation of players that has been here. My legacy: maybe we could have a book about it one day but you won’t be judged on whether we won the Champions League or not. The legacy is we had a great time and played great football and the best legacy you can have is you have performed well and played well.” City will be without the injured Nathan Ake but Kevin De Bruyne, who was an unused substitute for Sunday’s win at Everton, is fit. City beat Real 4-3 in the first leg of last season’s semi-final and Guardiola would happily settle for a repeat scoreline. He added: “We’d like to have the game we had last season, I’d sign for it right now but I don’t think it will happen.” Real have won the Champions League a record 14 times and Guardiola searched for an explanation as to why they are the kings of Europe. “If I knew that I would know the method of beating them,” he said. “Basically the reason is they have always had great quality players, without players of that standard, they would not be able to achieve that.” Read More Man City being driven to title by man of the moment – and it’s not Erling Haaland The no-impact substitute: Kalvin Phillips’ ongoing humiliation gives Man City a problem What do Manchester City need to win the Premier League title? The no-impact substitute: Kalvin Phillips’ humiliation gives Man City a problem Rising stars have chance to emulate footballing greats at FIFA youth tournament ‘A dream come true’: Pep Guardiola elated at position of treble-chasing Man City
1970-01-01 08:00
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Man City players ‘owe’ Champions League title to Sheikh Mansour, says Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker believes Manchester City’s players owe it to Sheikh Mansour to win the Champions League. City host Real Madrid in the second leg of the semi-final after drawing 1-1 in the Bernabeu last week, still looking for a first European trophy since their 2008 takeover. Owner Sheikh Mansour has invested around £1.5 billion in the club in the last 15 years and Walker, one of a host of expensive signings, feels City can still be overshadowed by their neighbours Manchester United until they emulate them by becoming champions of Europe. The right-back said: “You have to just look over the road at Manchester United and what they have accomplished and when we get compared to that team they won countless titles. “We have done five [Premier League titles] in six years if we can cross the line on this one, which still isn’t over, but the club is missing that one [the Champions League] and the owners and the amount of money they have pumped in and the investment they have done we owe that to them.” United have won the European Cup three times, including in 1999 when they did the treble of the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup that City hope to accomplish now. City are in their fourth Champions League semi-final and have reached one final, losing 1-0 to Chelsea in Porto in 2021. And Walker added: “To get to the Champions League final against Chelsea and not perform as well as we can, we owe that to ourselves and get some revenge because we know that was below par on that day.” Read More Inter vs AC Milan line-ups: Team news ahead of Champions League semi-final as Rafael Leao to return The no-impact substitute: Kalvin Phillips’ ongoing humiliation gives Man City a problem What do Manchester City need to win the Premier League title?
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