Pep Guardiola admits he will be called a failure if he doesn’t win a Champions League title with Manchester City
- Pep Guardiola knows he has to win the Champions League to please everyone
- The Spaniard won it twice as manager of Barcelona but not with Bayern Munich
- Many Bayern fans were not satisfied and expectations at City are similarly high
Pep Guardiola admitted some would brand his spell at Manchester City a failure should they not lift the Champions League.
The Premier League champions visit Swansea City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with hopes of clinching an unprecedented Quadruple still alive.
Rio Ferdinand this week claimed failing to win the Champions League would be ‘frowned upon’ and Guardiola knows his record in Europe is under the spotlight.
Pep Guardiola knows he has to win the Champions League to please everyone at Man City
‘I was judged at Bayern Munich in that way so I will be judged here as well,’ Guardiola said after City were drawn against Tottenham in the last eight.
‘My period in Munich was not good for most people because we didn’t get to one final.
‘So I’m a lucky guy – my (expected) standards are high. I have to reach it. I have to accept it. We won a lot in the past and that’s why people believe that is normal but that is not normal.
‘Everyone can judge if it’s a disaster, (that) if we do not win the Champions League, our work for three seasons, every three days, is a failure or a disaster. I completely do not agree, but what can I say? Accept it and move on.’
Guardiola agreed that the international break has come at a good time for City. Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, John Stones, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy are all recovering from injuries.
The Spaniard won the trophy twice as manager of Barcelona but failed with Bayern Munich
Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte, two of the more influential stars, have not been selected by their national teams and will be given days off.
Guardiola also defended his management of Phil Foden, who is hopeful of featuring at Swansea.
‘Phil can play more minutes but he could play less,’ the City manager added. ‘We cannot forget he is 18 years old and it’s the first season he’s played incredible minutes in the first team.
‘He’ll play more in the future. The process has to be calm. We want him to stay for a long time, playing regularly, and every season he will be stronger and stronger.
‘He’s an incredible talent but he still has a lot of things to improve. It’s simple for his age. At his age he needs time to grow and to be created. It’s important he knows he is able to play with us and he knows we can trust him.’
Guardiola spoke to the media on Friday on the eve of City’s FA Cup game against Swansea