‘Nobody will match super City success’
PEP SAYS DOMINANCE IS HARD TO REPEAT
PEP Guardiola believes any team will struggle to reach the level of dominance that his City side have managed.
The victory over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup final made it eight trophies out of the last nine competitions they have entered, with three Carabao Cups, one FA Cup, two Premier Leagues and two Community Shields won since the beginning of the 2017/18 season.
Liverpool are expected to bring that run of domestic trophies to an end when they are crowned Premier League champions this season, but the level of consistency shown by the Blues means it will take something special to outdo their achievements.
Having arrived in England to claims that he would not be able to make City as dominant as Barcelona had been in Spain or Bayern Munich in Germany, even the manager has been surprised at how much success he has had with the Etihad club.
“I think the fact we’ve won eight of nine is incredible, it’s more remarkable,” he said.
“I think it will be so difficult to do it again, not just for ourselves but for our opponents – it’s the consistency.
“We won eight titles. When we won the first title here against Arsenal we played 11 comps we won eight of these 11, so it’s a lot. For this club it’s not just about one title, it’s about every game we play and every title we play for counts and try to win and that is the best thing we can give for this club.
“Sometimes you win a title and then after cannot win a title for a long time. What is important is everybody knows we have the responsibility to fight and try to win the games and titles and that means a lot.”
And Guardiola hailed his players as ‘something special’ after winning the Carabao Cup for a third year in succession.
He said: “Now it’s recovery. We have Sheffield Wednesday, Man United, Burnley, Champi
ons League. There is no time to rest or celebrate. But I think when we remember what he have done, it is because these players have something special.”
City dominated the opening period but a reply from Mbwana Samatta changed the complexion of the game.
The second half was a tighter affair and Claudio Bravo produced a brilliant save, tipping a Bjorn Engels header onto the post, to prevent extra time.
Guardiola said: “Credit to Villa. They had chances.
“But I’m very pleased with our performance, especially in the second half.
“Sometimes you don’t know what to do – attack or keep the result from the first half. We did it properly.
“We created a lot of chances and shots on goal but, unfortunately, couldn’t score the third one. The game was open but that is normal. It was a final and a lot of energy was spent in Madrid.
“We played really well in general and we have another trophy in our club.”
Phil Foden, who set up the first goal, was named man of the match. It was the 19-year-old’s first appearance for a month.
Guardiola said: “Unfortunately for him he fights against one of the best players in the world in his position but in training he’s incredible and always ready. We can count on him.
“The game he played, the media decided he was man of the match, so congratulations.”
Guardiola continues to enjoy success at Wembley, where he also won two Champions League finals with Barcelona, as well as last season’s FA Cup with City. “I love the old Wembley and new Wembley you can invite me whenever you want!” said Guardiola, also a player in Barcelona’s 1992 Champions League triumph. However, he was not so keen on the idea he should have a Wembley tattoo.
“My body doesn’t accept tattoos,” he said. “I’m not strong enough!”