Pep’s Real focus is now on Europe
WITH TITLE GONE, BOSS FINALLY ADMITTING HIS NO.1 GOAL
PEP Guardiola has spent most of his time playing down the importance and significance of the Champions League at City.
The arrival at the Etihad in 2016 of the coach who has won the competition twice was seen as the final piece of a puzzle that Blues bosses had been putting together for some time – the man that could draw everything together and deliver the most coveted trophy and crown the club’s ascent to the top of European football.
Yet, however much he loves the Champions League, and however ingrained in collective memory the dismantling of United that his Barcelona side produced in their biggest game of the season, Guardiola has been more keen on league titles determining success.
“I want to be happy during 11 months. It makes me happy, the Premier League,” he insisted at the start of this season.
“When I win, the days after I am happier. I go to the restaurants better, I feel better, I work better with my players. That’s what it gives me.
“Am I going to wait until February to play seven games with everything on the colour black? From my point of view, it’s too risky.”
With the Premier League gone, though, and with City’s future in the Champions League for the next two seasons dependant on the outcome of a court hearing, Guardiola has never been more open about their European ambition. Asked about the lack of a pre-season between campaigns given the Champions League latter stages will take place while the Premier League rests, City’s manager smiled and said it would be good because it would mean they had gone all the way in the competition.
A coach who normally refuses to indulge in speculating about games beyond the next one has kept bringing up Real Madrid in recent weeks, and with Liverpool confirmed as Premier League
Guardiola has never been more open about City’s Champions League ambition
Simon Bajkowski