Daily Mail

Guardiola: I’m facing biggest test as a coach

- By CHRIS WHEELER

PEP GUARDIOLA admits he is facing the biggest test of his coaching career after witnessing Manchester City’s painful Champions League defeat by Monaco.

Guardiola conquered Europe twice as manager of Barcelona before inheriting a Champions League-winning team at Bayern Munich.

But after failing to reach the semi-finals for the first time, the Spaniard accepts that taking City to a similar level is the greatest challenge of all.

He said: ‘In terms of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it’s a big disaster when they don’t win. I knew that.

‘Here I didn’t think that, but it is a big disaster when you don’t win as well. In the other clubs for many other reasons it was little bit closer, but here it will take more time.

‘It’s the first time in my career as a manager when I feel that now is the moment you have to see yourself like a manager. For the other ones, I was lucky managing and training big clubs.

‘Now is the first time I want to help the team so people say, “Wow, Pep could do that again at a team in England and at Manchester City”. I love this club and want to be here for a long, long time. I want to try to do it.’

Despite the worst Champions League failure of his career, Guardiola insists he has never felt more ‘power’ as a manager than he does at City following a meeting with owner Sheik Mansour at the end of last month. He also revealed that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had sent him a message offering support after the agonising last-16 defeat in Monaco.

‘I met the big boss in Abu Dhabi and I know the plan,’ said Guardiola. ‘It’s a team that took the next step seven years ago and we are thinking to get better. I want to be involved in that as much as possible and to help my team to make the next step. I have more power than ever in my life as a manager.

‘For me, it’s a big challenge and I want to deal with that. I want to see myself if I am able to do that.’ Asked about the text message from Khaldoon, Guardiola added: ‘He prefers to win the Champions League. But he is always close.

‘I always feel he is there, so close to the team, so close to me, but he knows. I feel his reaction in the good moments and bad moments — especially in the bad moments — and I am really impressed. I appreciate that a lot.’

City now face a battle to finish in the top four of the Premier League and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

They face Liverpool at the Etihad tomorrow followed by trips to Arsenal and Chelsea.

Guardiola said: ‘Qualificat­ion for the Champions League will be tough until the last game of the Premier League.’

Guardiola faced questions over his decision to leave captain Vincent Kompany out of his squad in Monaco.

He admitted that he cannot rely on Kompany’s fitness at the moment, a decision echoed by Belgium coach Roberto Martinez who has left the defender out of his country’s games against Greece and Russia.

‘He was a long time injured and sometimes he played but was injured again so I could not risk him and be safe,’ said Guardiola.

‘ I want to be sure he can compete from the beginning and not waste one game because he can’t play 90 minutes.’

 ?? EMPICS ?? Frustrated: Guradiola is animated as City lose
EMPICS Frustrated: Guradiola is animated as City lose
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