Pep Guardiola admits City’s reign “won’t be complete” without the Champions League | Pep Guardiola

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Pep Guardiola has said for the first time that if Manchester City don’t win the Champions League under him, his highly successful tenure “will not be complete”.

Since becoming City manager in the summer of 2016, Guardiola has won five Premier League titles, four League Cups and an FA Cup. But he has not yet led the club to the Champions League title and has always played it down.

Guardiola last month signed a one-year extension to his contract with the option to extend it until 2025 and was asked if winning Europe’s most important club competition was a motivating factor in that decision.

“It’s not the only one, but I admit it’s the trophy we want and my period here won’t be complete if we don’t win it,” he said. But this is not the only reason [I signed]. I will do everything in the time we have together to win her, but I will say the same thing before [signing]. It is the trophy we do not have and we will try to achieve it. I have a feeling they are [City] You will get it sooner or later. We’ve tried in the past, even in the first season despite being knocked out in the last 16, so we’ll try with all our might.”

City returned to action on Thursday night for the first time since domestic football’s World Cup break when they host Liverpool in their Carabao Cup last-16 tie. While five Liverpool players have been in Qatar compared to City’s 16 with Julian Alvarez yet to return after being a member of the victorious Argentina side, Guardiola has no qualms about a Championship hangover.

He said, “I have a feeling that those who participated in the World Cup are in better shape than the players who did not go, and the players who did not go lack rhythm, who came back to compete and train every day.” .

“The players who haven’t played in the World Cup who are playing can get the rhythm tomorrow so we have to do it with what we have. Step by step they’re back – six players are back.” [already] We are happy that they are back, in general they played well and had an incredible experience.”

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And while England players – Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Calvin Phillips and John Stones – were among those who returned to training on Wednesday – Guardiola congratulated Alvarez, who finished the tournament with four goals. “We are so happy for him,” he said.

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