Manchester City cannot be considered among the all-time great club sides until they win the Champions League on multiple occasions.
That is the opinion of plenty of City doubters in the wider media, but also, it seems, of Pep Guardiola. With City two games away from a historic treble, Guardiola is facing questions on the wider legacy of his side and where they will stand among history's great teams.
Guardiola's Barcelona team from 2008-2012 is widely considered one of the best, and he was asked ahead of Sunday's Premier League coronation how the current City era compares to the side he managed 15 years ago.
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Perhaps surprisingly, after insisting for so long that the Champions League wouldn't define his personal legacy, Guardiola insisted that winning the European Cup will determine if City are remembered as one of the best sides in history.
"The team is really good but I agree with the media who say you have to win in Europe to be considered among the best teams, he said.
"Win in Europe, not just one but many times. We have not. The joy is so nice, it's amazing what being here again and again. Nothing is going to change if we lift it or not but if we want to be considered as one of the best teams we have to lift the Champions League.
"My opinion will not change but to be in the real books you have to be there."
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