Sports
We will be judged on Champions League performance – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will ultimately be judged on whether they win the Champions League despite winning an unprecedented domestic treble.
The Spaniard is aware critics will point to the club’s failure in Europe whatever other success he achieves at the club.
A 6-0 win over Watford in Saturday’s FA Cup final followed Premier League and Carabao Cup triumphs this season.
“I said before that I know we will be judged at the end on whether we win the Champions League,” said Guardiola.
“I know unless we do that it will not be enough.
“This comes with me. I know that. I arrive in Barcelona, we were lucky we won it two times in four years and the people expect I am something special that we have to win the Champions League and it’s still true.
“In this club, the points record and the domestic competitions is incredible, but the Champions League we don’t win quite often compared to the other ones because the teams are so good, the competition is so demanding but we want to win it.”
Guardiola, who has not tasted European success since 2011, having drawn a blank during his spell with Bayern Munich, said what sets the Champions League apart is the level of the opposition.
Guardiola and City, who have never won the competition, have failed to make it past the quarter-finals since he took over in 2016.
They lost to Monaco in the last-16 in 2017 and exited in the last eight to Liverpool last year and Tottenham this season.
“In this club, the points record and the domestic competitions is incredible,” he said.
“But the Champions League we don’t win quite often compared to the other ones because the teams are so good, the competition is so demanding but we want to win it.”
City have won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cup since the takeover led by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 but have never won the Champions League.
Defender Vincent Kompany has been there throughout, including eight years as captain, but announced on Sunday he would be leaving the club.
Kompany, 33, is joining Belgian club Anderlecht as player-manager on a three-year deal.
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