TEXT Maniacs
PEP: I’M NOT OBSESSED
MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola insists he is not obsessed with winning the Champions League again.
Guardiola landed the biggest club prize twice during his glittering time in charge of Barcelona.
But since taking over at City in 2016, he has failed to lead the Premier League champions into the last four, let alone win it.
The European Cup remains the only piece of silverware missing from his CV at the Etihad.
But he claims he will not be left in ruins if he doesn’t get his hands on the Champions League trophy for a third time.
Guardiola, whose side host Dinamo Zagreb in Group C tonight, said: “I want to win it but if I don’t, it will not change my life – I am not going to kill myself.
“In my first press conference, it was the same question, ‘You are here to win the Champions League?’
“And I say I spoke to Ferran Soriano (chief executive) and Khaldoon Al Mubarak (chairman) and they didn’t tell me that.
“We want to do it. We tried the first season, we tried the second season when we were up for four competitions.
“I would be happier – but not in my private life.
“Barcelona is my club in my heart and it was 1992 before they won the first one – and Barcelona was born a long time ago. “So I am sorry. I am not going to live the next 10 months thinking if I don’t win the Champions League it would be a disaster because my life is quite good.” Guardiola believes most City fans would prefer to win the Premier League title and has urged his players to “seduce” them into falling in love with the competition.
Fans continue to boo the Champions League anthem while tickets remain available against a side looking to avoid becoming the first team to lose 13 away matches in a row in the competition. Guardiola added: “The only way to seduce them is winning games and playing good.
“I know for the fans it’s the Premier League that’s most exciting.
“We know that as a club. We’ve done polls. I know how special the league is but this competition is nice too.
“That’s the culture of our club and that’s a reality of our club so we have to accept it.
“We have to seduce them so they realise how it’s important.
“All I can say to our fans, ‘Come support us, these guys deserve it.’ They want to make a step forward. We need the fans.” TEXT DSSPORT followed by a space, then your name and comment, and send to 85525. Texts cost 25p plus your standard network rate. 18+ only SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390
Tony of thfc..SPURS ARE PUTTING HARRY KANE ON STRICTLY??..it’s the only way they’d EVER WIN A TROPHY NFFC 4EVA. TETS.
Why do everton fc cum out 2 the z cars theme? SUNDANCE
3 games 70 chances 3 goals. Bielsa please try 4-1-3-2 with Nketiah and Bamford up front. We need to score more or we won’t even finish in top 6. MAD MAX
i am not City but absolutely love watching them, i am texting in because i am astonished that not ONE City player was recognised by fifa at those awards, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Ederson, Bernado Silva to name but four,and Pep Guardiola i cannot believe he was over looked for klopp, 4 trophies in one season and nothing, there is something seriously wrong at fifa. Red devil john.
I am made up dirty leeds are now getting found out. All their fans thought they were going to win league easily. Ha ha made up. Cockney hammer