“Whatever happens, I’m going to fail” – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes brutally honest claim on Champions League criticism

Pep Guardiola believes his exploits in the Champions League with Manchester City will always leave him short in people’s minds.

The Catalan, who took over at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, has led City to a plethora of domestic success, including four Premier League title wins and four Carabao Cups.

A brilliant knockout run in 2021 saw Guardiola lead City to their first ever Champions League final, where they came up just short in the final against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.

Recurring setbacks in Europe’s elite club competition have sparked consistent question marks over Guardiola’s legacy at Manchester City, who endured a late collapse and crashed out of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last season.

Ahead of the first leg of his side’s Round of 16 tie away at RB Leipzig on Wednesday evening, Guardiola was asked if he holds a special affinity with the Champions League.

“A fantastic tournament (Champions League). I love it. A privilege. I don’t know how far we go but we’re here,” the 52-year-old said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“Getting through the group is difficult. That’s why the dream is to get a good result tomorrow (against RB Leipzig) and go to the quarter-final.”

AS Monaco, Liverpool, Tottenham, Lyon, Chelsea and Real Madrid provide a complete list of clubs who have sent City crashing out of the Champions League during Guardiola’s six-and-a-half, trophy-laden era in east Manchester.

Competing on various fronts again this term, the spotlight will once again be on Guardiola and whether he can finally steer City over the line and prove his doubters once and for all.

He added: “I have the feeling despite what we (Manchester City) have done for many years, whatever happens, I’m going to fail.

It's time for 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 #UCL knock-out stage! 🤩💪 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/lqGqXC79Kl

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) February 21, 2023

“Nothing will be enough. That’s why I enjoy – good meal, good wine, watch Liverpool vs (Real) Madrid. Napoli is always a pleasure, and then prepare (for City’s game against RB Leipzig).

“If my career finished tomorrow, I’d be more than blessed with what I’ve done at Barcelona, Bayern (Munich) and Manchester City – to do what I’ve done in Europe in such a small amount of time. We (City) want to do our best. In the end, destiny is already written.”

Whilst a section of the football industry will inevitably judge Guardiola’s time at City by whether he can deliver in the Champions League, the man in the hot seat went on to explain that his side have fared much better than they are given credit since 2016.

On how long he’s held the above view for, Guardiola said: “(For) a few years. Mainly at City. Put in perspective that everything is a disaster if you don’t win some prizes. If everyone puts pressure on themselves. I don’t want to put pressure on myself.

“I’m blessed to be here (at Manchester City). I never thought when I arrived, we have to win everything – or every year I have to win 3, 4 Champions Leagues.

“Unless you are (Real) Madrid, the rest cannot do it. Adjust to try to do what we have done. The last two seasons, we (City) have been really close, really good games. And (we will) try to do it again.”

Guardiola confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte will miss the opening leg of the Round of 16 tie due to illness, with John Stones’ injury also ruling out the England international from City’s 22-man matchday squad.