Pep Guardiola (foto: Official TW/IG/FB account)
As Manchester City battles for a Champions League spot, Pep Guardiola admits he now understands José Mourinho’s 2018 claim about the difficulty of finishing second behind his City side.
Pep Guardiola is facing one of the most challenging seasons of his managerial career, with Manchester City currently sitting fifth in the Premier League and out of the Champions League title race.
Speaking ahead of City’s clash with Leicester, Guardiola acknowledged the harsh reality of the current campaign. With just 49 points and eight rounds to go, City are clinging to a Champions League qualifying spot—and only because England could receive a fifth place in next season's competition.
They’re just one point above Newcastle and Brighton, two above Fulham and Aston Villa, and only three clear of tenth-placed Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Liverpool, Arsenal, and surprisingly Nottingham Forest look safe, while Chelsea are level on points with City in fourth.
When asked about José Mourinho’s 2018 statement—that finishing second behind City with Manchester United was one of his greatest achievements—Guardiola surprisingly agreed.
"Qualifying for the Champions League next season will be an incredible success, just because we are there, despite the problems we had. I understand when José said that," Guardiola admitted.
He added: "People take it for granted that City will be in the Champions League every season. I know how difficult it is. All the big teams don’t make it every year—we’ve been the exception. That consistency is something I value deeply."
Guardiola pointed to a long list of injuries as the main reason for City’s drop in performance: "This season has been very strange. We didn’t have the players we needed. That’s the main reason. You can't compete for the treble or the double without a full squad."
Despite his strong record and long tenure at City, rumors are beginning to swirl. Italian media recently linked Guardiola with a potential move to AC Milan, although his strained history with Zlatan Ibrahimović—a major figure at the club—makes the scenario uncertain.
Guardiola has a connection to Italian football, having played for Roma and Brescia, but he admitted in 2023 that a return to Italy as a coach is unlikely. His managerial legacy includes stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and three Champions League titles as a coach, plus one as a player.