Champions League

Pep Guardiola launches emotional defence of his team after Champions League exit

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 06 May 2022

Guardiola launches emotional defence of his team after CL exit

Pep Guardiola defends his Manchester City team following their Champions League exit and insists that the club have invested in recent years to compete across all competitions.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended his team following their Champions League semi-final exit to Real Madrid and insists that the club have invested in recent years to compete across all competitions rather than prioritising European success.

The Citizens suffered a 6-5 aggregate defeat after losing the second leg 3-1 in extra time at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, a tie which they were leading 5-3 heading into stoppage time.

A calamitous collapse in the dying embers means City's search for Champions League glory goes on, and although Guardiola has admitted that he is unsure whether he is the right man to help the club win Europe's most prestigious club prize, the Spaniard has expressed in detail how proud he is of his players and their efforts at the highest level on all fronts.

When asked by reporters during a lengthy press conference on Friday whether City can win the Champions League in the future, Guardiola said: "I don't know. It's a question I cannot answer. Before Madrid I don't know. Sometimes you ask me questions but I don't have the answer to all of your questions. Football is incredibly unpredictable. We saw it.

"Maybe I'm wrong, but I have the feeling that the people from Abu Dhabi bought this club and invested in these incredible facilities and players like a lot of other clubs in the world to what we have lived in the last years – not to just win the Champions League. They did it to be there in all competitions every season and compete in all competitions until the end. We want to do it (win the Champions League).

"Maybe I'm not good enough to help the team to do it. Nobody knows what would have happened with other players or managers. For us, it is an honour to be there as much as possible in all competitions. I know that some people don't appreciate what this club is doing, maybe it is not enough but for me it is incredibly remarkable being in the semi-finals of the Champions League again after last season and making steps to be there and competing against an outstanding team in this competition the way we did it home and away. We were close, not close enough because Madrid deserve it.

"We were not close enough but we were there and this is my feeling. All my life depends on winning the Premier League, the Champions League, nothing they have done since they took over one decade ago with all the players before me, doesn't make sense. Next season we will try again, knowing it is so difficult because the teams are good. Just count all the teams behind us in the quarter-finals, group stages or who didn't qualify. How good they are and they are not there. I know the people want us to do it, since day one I will have to handle it."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected on May 4, 2022 © Reuters

"But it is not about that, it about being there again in the Premier League, in the FA Cup being there in the Champions League semi-finals, this season it could not happen but winning the Carabao Cup four times. This is where they want to be, that's why they seduced me to be here. The club never asked me to win any title, they asked me to play as good as possible, to compete with all the teams in England and all the teams in Europe. This is the reason why. It is completely opposite to what people think.

"I'm not saying it is a failure or not. People say if this group of players won't win the Champions League they will be failures. I accept it. I completely disagree, in sport we know how difficult everything is but I accept it. I'm not going to make a debate about who is right or wrong."

Guardiola has also admitted that he has not yet spoken to his players about their defeat in Madrid and insists the team will be focused fully on Sunday's Premier League game with Newcastle United.

"We didn't speak. No words can help for what all of us feel. It is just a question of time, sleep as well as possible and think of the next target. Tomorrow will be the first day we are together and we are going to talk about who we are as a team, what we have done in the semi-final. How good we have been not just in these two games but all season and try to do it over the last weeks," the Spaniard added.

"It is probably one of the moments since I am manager I am most proud to be in this club and organisation until the last day we are here we give everything together.

"I'm not thinking about the title, I'm thinking about Newcastle, focus on the team and Eddie Howe. After, this is what is in my mind. Not necessary to think just in case, we achieve what it is."

Man City currently sit at the top of the Premier League table, one point clear of Liverpool, who lock horns with top-four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Saturday night.