Guardiola: Man City job will be pointless without Champions League

• Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged his dream of a Champions League title with City
• Pep has, however, denied rumours he extended his stay at City primarily for the Champions League title
• Pep has renewed his contract at the club and will stay for three more years till 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stressed that winning the UEFA Champions League was not the primary reason he renewed his contract with Manchester City, but he acknowledges that the position would feel lacking without a successful European campaign.

Last month, Guardiola signed an extension contract with Manchester City that will keep him with the team through the 2024–25 season.

Under the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager, City have seen tremendous domestic success, winning the Premier League four times in the last five seasons.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool clash in the EFL Cup. | PHOTO: This is Anfield |

They haven’t managed to win the Champions League, though. Chelsea defeated them in the 2021 championship game and Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the previous season.

If City can’t turn their fortunes around in the competition before he leaves, Guardiola knows it will be a stain on his record.

“I admit it’s the trophy that we want, and of course, it would not be complete – my period here – if we don’t win it,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of City’s EFL Cup clash with Liverpool.

“But it’s not the only reason I extended the contract. What does it mean if, for the last 11 months, we didn’t play in the Champions League?

“Of course, I will do everything in this time we are together, we are going to try, as we tried before. Of course, it’s the trophy we don’t have, and we will try to do it.”

Pep Guardiola extended his stay at Manchester City up until 2025. | PHOTO: Eurosport |

Guardiola has led City to 11 victories under his leadership, but the 51-year-old is incredibly appreciative of the club’s management for their belief in him.

“I said many times what I had here. Thank you so much for the confidence they have in me,” he said. “It would be difficult to repay what, in these many years, the board, all the people have shown me.

“It’s difficult for me to reject them because of how they still want me and my staff, to try and do our best.

“I don’t have enough words to express the incredible gratitude for this club.”