Ahead of yet another European night for Manchester City, manager Pep Guardiola has made a huge admission about the UEFA Champions League.
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The Spanish boss has been heavily criticised for his form in Europe's biggest club competition since his time at FC Barcelona, with whom he won the tournament on two occasions.
Guardiola has not made a final since 2011, with the quarter-final stage of the UCL being the furthest he has gone with the Citizens.
Speaking ahead of their second leg of City's quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur, who lead 1-0 on aggregate, the manager strangely revealed he did not join the club to win the Champions League.
"I know I have to win the Champions League, the chairman told me I have to win three times in a row – that was his desire," he said, according to the Daily Telegraph.
"But in football you lose more than you win, you try to improve on the next fella and the fella before. We try to do our best and tomorrow we will see (if City can make a semi-final for the second time).
"Because I didn't win the Champions League (at Bayern Munich), people say I failed. My teams, when they don't win the Champions League, they fail all the time.
"I know people say I came here to win the Champions League. I didn't come here to win the Champions League, honestly.
"I came here to play with my team the way we are playing for the last 20 months, that is what I came here, to play the way I want to play.
"I know, in Bayern Munich, a big club, after three seasons winning absolutely everything, the Champions League was a big failure. What can I say? I accept that. I know that. I have to live with that but it's not a big, big problem, it pushes me better.
"You have to feel I have to win it – if not, it's not enough. But, also, I accept and understand the other teams are better too, in this competition. A lot of big, big clubs are not in the later stages, so what is important is how you handle 11 months of the season.
"For me, the Premier League is for the most important title. Show me every three days that you can be there. It is a good message for society, for ourselves, being there every time."
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Do you think City can turn the one-goal deficit against Spurs around tonight? Let us know in the comments section below.
