Only statement that counts is winning the final in May
City thrill but ‘perfect’ run ending in pain haunts Pep
PEP GUARDIOLA claims Manchester City’s record-breaking triumph over Sporting Lisbon does not mean they will finally win the Champions League.
City became the first team to score four first-half goals in a Champions League knock-out game as they thrashed the hosts 5-0 on Tuesday to all but secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Guardiola refuses to read too much into City’s devastating attacking display in that first leg because they did not win last season’s competition despite being “perfect” in his words.
His side won 11 of their 13 games and their only defeat was against Chelsea in the final in Porto.
“I know people will see this as a statement,” said the City manager. “But the quarter-finals, if we go to the next round, it will be in a month and I don’t know what will happen.
“We almost made a perfect Champions League last season. We played 13 games, we won 11, and drew one when we were already qualified here against Porto.
“And we lost the final and it was like, ‘What a f ****** failure this team is’ and it was not true.
“We made a perfect Champions League, but in the Champions League final we didn’t perform as we normally do. That’s why against a top side, a world champion – I congratulate them publicly for the first time for being Club World Champion – the margin of the Champions League is in this detail.
“I’m not going to hide behind the 5-0. We made in general very good things, but we didn’t read the spaces to attack them in the way they move.”
Riyad Mahrez, left, also refuses to get carried away by the victory, claiming the Champions League is difficult to win because it is now straight knockout.
The Algeria winger, who began the rout with his 10th Champions League goal in his past 11 appearances, claims their sole focus is Saturday’s clash with Tottenham as they bid to maintain their grip on the title race.
“The Champions League isn’t easy and it’s not like a league,” said City’s top scorer this season with 17 goals. “You have to be there in so many ways, we have to be strong and arrive at the end.
“It will be difficult, we’ll focus on the next game and we’ll see. Winning this competition is very far from now, we go match by match. We won this game and we played a great match. Now it’s time to focus on the Premier League and try to play a good game against Tottenham.”
City came within three matches of the Quadruple last season but two-goal hero Bernardo Silva claims they have moved to an even higher level.
“The Champions League is a competition we want to win,” said the Portugal star, who enjoyed a triumphant homecoming to Lisbon. “The group is in a very good moment, we are working really hard and we have shown we are at a higher level than even last season.
“We want to win all the competitions we are involved in, knowing that we are facing very strong opponents.
“In the Champions League we are playing against not only the best teams in England, but also the best teams in other countries too. Unfortunately, we didn’t win last season, but this season we will try again.”
City’s flight back from Lisbon was diverted to Liverpool due to strong winds.
I’m not going to hide behind the 5-0 victory