Guardiola: ‘Everyone Wants to Fire Me’ After Manchester City’s Exit
Pep Guardiola responded with irony and frustration after Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, a result that ended the club’s hopes of retaining the trophy.
Facing questions about his future, the Catalan coach quipped: ‘Everyone wants to fire me, right? Oh my God… One day, I’ll come here and say: goodbye guys.’
Guardiola acknowledged the immense expectations surrounding City in Europe, suggesting that one Champions League title is not enough to satisfy critics.
‘You are right. I’d have to win six Champions Leagues here to be recognized, that’s for sure,’ he said, recalling similar pressures during his time at Barcelona.
He admitted that the bar is set extremely high for City, comparing the scrutiny to that faced by Real Madrid, the competition’s most decorated club.
‘I would like this club to have the feeling that Real Madrid has. They don’t have it yet because of history. Real Madrid has it. If you don’t win the Champions League, it’s a failure. That’s the pressure. In time, maybe we will get there.’
Despite the disappointment, Guardiola insisted that the setback would not derail City’s ambitions, stressing that the club must continue striving to build its own European legacy.
