Pep Guardiola: Man City need to win Champions League to seal greatness
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged his side to go and complete the treble when they take on Inter Milan's in next week's Champions League final.
City defeated Manchester rivals United 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday – thanks to a brace from Ilkay Gundogan after a Bruno Fernandes penalty for the Red Devils – having already secured the Premier League title. Guardiola joined Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson as the only managers to win the English double more than once, having also achieved it in the 2018-19 season.
Next up for City will be the European Cup final against Inter in Istanbul as the club bid to win their first European Cup – and seal a historic treble.
“Everybody knows it. We have done incredible seasons – five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, Carabao Cups, but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised like the team deserves to be recognised,” said Guardiola.
“We have to admit it, without the Champions League – it has been amazing, it has been fun – but we are missing [something]. We have to do it.
“We are one game away. I would say it is incredible, remarkable, that in three years we have had two finals and one semi-final of the Champions League.
“But in the end, we have to win it. I know how it works. I said to the players, 'You have to put the pressure on yourself. To be recognised as something good you have to win in Europe'.”
Before they fully switch focus to Inter, City can reflect on their latest trophy-winning performance, when things did not all go their way at Wembley.
United pegged City back following Gundogan's superb opener – the quickest ever FA Cup final goal after just 12 seconds – with Fernandes scoring from the spot after Jack Grealish was judged to have handled following a VAR review.
Yet they responded early in the second half as Kevin De Bruyne picked out Gundogan on the edge of the area from a free-kick and the German volleyed in his second.
The National News
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged his side to go and complete the treble when they take on Inter Milan's in next week's Champions League final.
City defeated Manchester rivals United 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday – thanks to a brace from Ilkay Gundogan after a Bruno Fernandes penalty for the Red Devils – having already secured the Premier League title. Guardiola joined Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson as the only managers to win the English double more than once, having also achieved it in the 2018-19 season.
Next up for City will be the European Cup final against Inter in Istanbul as the club bid to win their first European Cup – and seal a historic treble.
“Everybody knows it. We have done incredible seasons – five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, Carabao Cups, but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised like the team deserves to be recognised,” said Guardiola.
“We have to admit it, without the Champions League – it has been amazing, it has been fun – but we are missing [something]. We have to do it.
“We are one game away. I would say it is incredible, remarkable, that in three years we have had two finals and one semi-final of the Champions League.
“But in the end, we have to win it. I know how it works. I said to the players, 'You have to put the pressure on yourself. To be recognised as something good you have to win in Europe'.”
Before they fully switch focus to Inter, City can reflect on their latest trophy-winning performance, when things did not all go their way at Wembley.
United pegged City back following Gundogan's superb opener – the quickest ever FA Cup final goal after just 12 seconds – with Fernandes scoring from the spot after Jack Grealish was judged to have handled following a VAR review.
Yet they responded early in the second half as Kevin De Bruyne picked out Gundogan on the edge of the area from a free-kick and the German volleyed in his second.
The National News
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged his side to go and complete the treble when they take on Inter Milan's in next week's Champions League final.
City defeated Manchester rivals United 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday – thanks to a brace from Ilkay Gundogan after a Bruno Fernandes penalty for the Red Devils – having already secured the Premier League title. Guardiola joined Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson as the only managers to win the English double more than once, having also achieved it in the 2018-19 season.
Next up for City will be the European Cup final against Inter in Istanbul as the club bid to win their first European Cup – and seal a historic treble.
“Everybody knows it. We have done incredible seasons – five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, Carabao Cups, but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised like the team deserves to be recognised,” said Guardiola.
“We have to admit it, without the Champions League – it has been amazing, it has been fun – but we are missing [something]. We have to do it.
“We are one game away. I would say it is incredible, remarkable, that in three years we have had two finals and one semi-final of the Champions League.
“But in the end, we have to win it. I know how it works. I said to the players, 'You have to put the pressure on yourself. To be recognised as something good you have to win in Europe'.”
Before they fully switch focus to Inter, City can reflect on their latest trophy-winning performance, when things did not all go their way at Wembley.
United pegged City back following Gundogan's superb opener – the quickest ever FA Cup final goal after just 12 seconds – with Fernandes scoring from the spot after Jack Grealish was judged to have handled following a VAR review.
Yet they responded early in the second half as Kevin De Bruyne picked out Gundogan on the edge of the area from a free-kick and the German volleyed in his second.
The National News
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Pep Guardiola: Man City need to win Champions League to seal greatness
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