Pep Guardiola credits Manchester City for ‘giving him time’ to win Champions League title - ‘They didn’t believe’
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Published 07/03/2024 at 00:03 GMT
Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City did not have the belief that they could win the UEFA Champions League when he joined the club eight years ago. Following City's 3-1 win over Copenhagen on Wednesday, the Spanish boss hailed the City hierarchy for giving him time and trusting his “step-by-step” process as they bid to defend the title they finally got their hands on last season.
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, second-leg, football match between Manchester City and FC Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, north west England, on March 6, 2024. (Photo
Image credit: Eurosport
Pep Guardiola has credited the Manchester City hierarchy for “accepting the process” in the club’s bid to win the UEFA Champions League.
The Spaniard admitted that upon his arrival in 2016, the club “didn’t believe” they could scoop Europe’s most prestigious prize.
But seven years later, Guardiola finally led the club to its first Champions League title to cap off a remarkable treble-winning campaign last year.
Following City’s 6-2 aggregate victory over Copenhagen in the last 16 as the club continued their bid to defend their title, Guardiola praised club bosses for giving him time.
“The numbers are there, the consistency in this competition,” Guardiola told TNT Sports, reflecting on City’s current stunning record in Europe in recent years.
“I remember when I arrived, they didn’t believe, the club didn’t believe we could do it [win the Champions League] it was a process, step by step.
“The managers of the teams in modern football don’t have time to do it, but they gave me time.
“They gave us time - our hierarchy - credit to them to accept the process and now we are a team that believes we can do it [again].”
City moved past Copenhagen with a 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to continue their incredible form in Europe.
They have won 28 of their last 30 home games in the competition, but Guardiola knows there will be tough competition awaiting his side in the quarter-finals, no matter who they are drawn against.
Bayern Munich and Paris-Saint Germain progressed on Tuesday, while Real Madrid narrowly moved past Copenhagen on Wednesday.
Premier League rivals Arsenal will look to overturn a one-goal deficit against Porto next week, while Barcelona, Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and PSV are all still in contention for a spot in the last eight.
“Listen, we are competing against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, I don’t [after] know next week’s [ties] which opponents we are going to face, but they will be really, really tough,” Guardiola said.
“In that situation, it’s a question of wait and see. The important thing is, seven years in a row being there, this is honestly, quite impressive.”
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