Pep Guardiola revealed Manchester City's strong determination to claim the Champions League trophy this season, while addressing his squad's past performances before the upcoming quarterfinal match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
Even with remarkable achievements in domestic competitions and significant investments in player transfers, the Champions League trophy has remained out of reach for Guardiola since joining the Premier League team in 2016, adding to the mounting pressure on the squad.
Despite being viewed as the frontrunner for this year's tournament, Manchester City still needs to overcome the challenge posed by the reigning German champion.
Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood actor and co-owner of Wrexham Football Club, rejoices in his team's 3-2 win during the Vanarama National League match between Wrexham and Notts County at The Racecourse Ground on April 10, 2023, in Wrexham, Wales. Reynolds refers to the event as "bananas" as Wrexham takes a critical step toward promotion.
Guardiola expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to compete against an elite team like Bayern Munich. "We want to try. It is an honor to be here against an elite club in Bayern Munich. We will not take it for granted," Guardiola shared with journalists before the first-leg match at the Etihad Stadium.
The Spanish coach hasn't tasted Champions League victory since 2011 with Barcelona, and also failed to secure the title during his three-year tenure at Bayern Munich. However, he did guide Manchester City to the final in 2021, ultimately losing to Chelsea.
As discussions continue about when the club might win its first Champions League title, Guardiola drew comparisons with other sports icons who experienced both triumphs and setbacks, such as golf legend Jack Nicklaus and NBA star Michael Jordan.
Guardiola highlighted the fact that even the most successful teams in sports history tend to experience more losses than wins. "We try every single season. Teams you face are also good too and want to win too. My dream is to live it again. We want to try but that doesn’t mean we are going to win," he added.
In the upcoming match against Bayern Munich, Guardiola will compete against former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel, the very man who defeated him in the 2021 Champions League final. Tuchel took over the German team last month after the departure of Julian Nagelsmann and has since led Bayern back to the top of the league.
Despite their recent success, Tuchel acknowledges the challenge that Manchester City presents, with in-form top scorer Erling Haaland leading their attack. The Norwegian striker recently set a new Premier League record by becoming the fastest player to reach 30 goals in a season.
Tuchel accepts the underdog status for the upcoming match, emphasizing the importance of confidence and staying in control. "We have to stay confident and stay on top of our game. There will be moments where we will be suffering and we will have to defend as a block, try to overcome that and try to get more possession," he said.
In another quarterfinal first-leg match on Tuesday, Benfica will take on Inter Milan. The second legs for both games are set for April 19.
