‘Pep has nothing to prove’
RUBEN DIAS believes Pep Guardiola is already a Champions League legend – despite Manchester City’s failure to land Europe’s most glittering club prize.
Guardiola was part of the Barcelona team that lifted the trophy for the first time in 1992 before later coaching the Catalan giants to the ultimate triumph twice in the space of three seasons.
But City were beaten by Chelsea in last season’s final.
And although Guardiola (below) kissed his runners-up medal and told his players in the dressing room that they should be proud of the history they had made, the reality is that in eight seasons at the Etihad and Bayern Munich he has suffered nothing but heartbreak.
City face star-studded Paris Saint-germain on Tuesday night – the team they beat in last season’s semi-final. And Footballer of the Year Dias insists his manager has nothing to prove.
“In my opinion he is one of the best managers ever,” said Dias.
“What he has done in the game, not only here but in Barcelona and at Bayern Munich, is incredible.
“People think that it is easy to manage at a top club.
“But it comes with challenges and the manager has been successful everywhere he’s been.
“Obviously, it’s not just what he’s won here and elsewhere but his style of play.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of his squad and he’ll keep pushing us to keep winning trophies.”
PSG have added Barca legend Lionel Messi to a strikeforce that already included Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
The Argentine is an injury doubt for the City game, but Dias added: “I think you want to test yourself against the best players.
“Messi is a phenomenal player and as a professional, you want to play against all those sorts of names.”