Pep Guardiola accepts his Manchester City tenure is likely to be judged on whether he succeeds in the Champions League or not. The City boss has set extraordinarily high standards for himself having previously guided Barcelona to victory in the competition twice.
In comparison to that, his spell in charge of Bayern Munich, where he was a three-time losing semi-finalist, is generally regarded as a disappointment.
That is despite almost cleaning up on the domestic front with three Bundesliga titles and two German Cups. Already at City, Guardiola has won the Premier League by a record margin and the League Cup twice, but he expects Europe to be the barometer of whether his reign is a success or failure.
He said: “I was judged in Munich in that way so I will be judged here as well. My period in Munich was not good for most people because we didn’t get one final.
We got semi-finals but we didn’t get a final and we were judged. “So, I’m a lucky guy. My standards are high. I have to reach it.” Guardiola was speaking after learning his side will face Premier League rivals Tottenham in the quarter-finals of this season’s competition next month.
He recognises such judgements are the price he has had to pay for his success but he still believes they are unfair. The 48-year-old said: “When you are in the position that we are right now, I’ve not many complaints. I’m pretty sure our fans know it. “When I spoke with my chairman, CEO, sporting director, the people here know and they give credit for what we have done in the last two seasons. At the end, that is the most important thing. “After that, everyone can judge if it’s a disaster.
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If we do not win the Champions League, our work for three seasons, every three days, is a failure or a disaster. I completely do not agree but what can I say? Accept it and move on. “What’s important is that the players, the club, the fans and the people give credit if we are consistent and humble and, in every single game, do what we have to do. “But I have to accept it. We won a lot in the past and that’s why people believe that is normal – but that is not normal.”
