One Pep ahead of the rest!

RWARD-THINKING GUARDIOLA’S NOT TING A SECOND AS LEGACY BUILDS

Guardiola is ext season y becoming

GAIN. ority, not the pite the whole at capturing as the main bi billionaires The Etihad. his mandate inch Europe’s the first time story. When I came hairman and irector never have to win pions League’ have to win mier League’. y didn’t ask for one title. They said to do what you believe and try to be consistent for as long as possible.”

Guardiola is honest enough to admit that his current champions are not ready to win the European Cup after crashing out to Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

So his priority is to win the Premier League again next season – a title no boss has retained in the last nine years.

He added: “I realise this season how difficult it will be to win the Champions League. Maybe I am wrong.

“But before you win the Champions League as a club you have to win more Premier Leagues in a row first, to get respect in Europe that you are a top club. So I would prefer, like this season, to be solid in the Premier League.

“The minute people ask whether we are one of the best teams of all time, you have to win back-to-back titles.

“So the Premier League is the priority next season, absolutely.

“I will sign up right now if we can do what we did this season again next time.

“You win the title by working hard every day. I think to be a solid team, and for Europe to start watching what we have done, it is not just about one season.

“What I have experienced for two seasons with this club in Europe is that it is better to be focused on the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and then, after that, try to arrive at the best moment possible for the Champions League.

“To be part of something special in the Premier League you have to win more. For once, when the pundits say that, they are right. They say we are not the best team – and they are right. We have to win more titles.

“But this season the title belongs to us. This season we are the best.”

Guardiola added: “Believe me, I would dream to play in the final of the Champions League.

“I know how beautiful it feels to finish the season with that trophy but I prefer to have a team which every day is a machine.”

Pep knows from experience how difficult it will be next season for players who might fall below such sky-high standards set at The Etihad during this campaign.

He said: “They don’t realise that what they have done is now finished and that they have to play for the future. They think that because they’ve done it once they will do it again.

“That’s why next season will be more difficult – it will be much harder.

“Our relationship next season will not be this friendly.”