Pep Guardiola optimistic with Champions League this season
Manchester City are starting from the start of their journey in the European Champions League this season, by facing FC Porto in the first week of Group C, WIB (22/10).
Of course, this season there is new hope again that the Premier League giants are staring at after seeing how they were eliminated last season.
As is known, last season Manchester City has reached the quarter-finals. However, in the last eight, Pep Guardiola’s men were eliminated by the dark horse team, Lyon.
Obviously disappointing, because they are more favored than representatives of France, and some even consider City as a candidate to win. However, there was nothing that could be regretted, because now was the time to look at new hope.
It’s just that coach Pep Guardiola still feels that last season’s failure is his sole responsibility.
“I feel very responsible for how the club feels, as well as for the players. I failed to push the club and I feel responsible. However, seeing that game, we have to accept the fact that we were not good enough.”
“We didn’t play badly, we had some good moments. However, sometimes we make some mistakes, and you shouldn’t do that in this competition, “Guardiola told Sky Sports.
Now, there is a new hope that De Bruyne et al. Look at in the new season. The gap that exists to become a champion is already getting smaller, but according to Pep Guardiola, this gap must be closed or pursued by finding the right solution.
“I always feel we have come close. The distance is getting thinner, but you have to really close the gap. We have to find a solution. After all it’s just the past. Now there are new opportunities and we will start from zero again,” he concluded.
Pep Guardiola has handled Manchester City since 2016, and so far he hasn’t been able to bring the Premier League giants to talk much in the Champions League.
In fact, Pep was the last winner at this annual event while still handling Barcelona. There, he won two European Champions League titles, including in 2009 and 2011.