Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City will have to win the Champions League before they are recognised as a truly great side by the rest of Europe.
City go into Sunday’s title showdown with Liverpool in contention to win a treble this season after beating Atlético Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in midweek. With the second leg against Atlético to come on Wednesday before the FA Cup semi-final against Jürgen Klopp’s side next weekend, Guardiola said his side has been widely praised for their achievements in domestic football that have included three Premier League titles since 2018.
But the City manager acknowledged that City will never be classed in the same bracket as his Barcelona teams unless they become European champions. “I think we’ve had incredible words and compliments. What we feel together inside is that we will remember that period with big satisfaction with what we’ve done,” said Guardiola.
“Sometimes to be happy we get the proof from outside to be happy inside and that is stupid. What we want is proof from the outside that what we’ve done is right. It is right what we’ve done and it is right what we’re doing.
“I agree with most of the people who said that we’ve not achieved in Europe, we’ve not won the Champions League and maybe they are right. To get the recognition of everyone in the world outside we need to conquer Europe.”
He added: “Is it going to happen? I don’t know – so far what we’ve done here makes me incredibly happy. First of all we had fun. We did many, many good things, that’s my feeling. But whether it is enough doesn’t matter. I could not care less.
“Many people have said good things about my team and we appreciate it. The things we’ve done and the way we’ve done it – dominating many times – and I’m sure you will agree with me, the period of five seasons is a long time. These seasons we were always there and that is good.”
City have seen Liverpool gradually close the gap at the top of the table after they had established a 14-point lead over their main rivals at one stage of the season, albeit with Liverpool having played two games fewer at the time. Guardiola admitted that Sunday’s result at the Etihad could have a major bearing not only on the title race but his side’s season as a whole.
“It’s just game by game. This game will be different to the next one. The FA Cup will be a little bit related by the consequences of what happens on Sunday,” he said. “But it’s game after game. Right after we finished with Atlético Madrid we had five days to prepare for Liverpool. When we finish on Sunday I will start to review the game for Atlético Madrid and the second leg.”
While at Barcelona, Guardiola had a tempestuous rivalry with José Mourinho during his time in charge at Real Madrid. When asked whether City’s present rivalry with Liverpool was at all comparable with the cauldron of the clásico in that era, he was not so sure.
“I think the atmosphere here is different,” said Guardiola. “Listen, it’s not comparable to what it is Barcelona-Madrid, City-Liverpool. But it’s not better or worse. It’s different. The way we live football here and in Spain is different.
“The rivalry I had with José was really good. I learned a lot, for myself. I grew up as a manager, he pushed me to another level as a manager, he pushed me to put the team at another level. It’s similar here but different. From outside here is more calm. Here normally in Barcelona there would be cameras behind watching the training session, radios – here it’s different. It’s the best. You have to be so proud in this country. It’s the best.”
