Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is setting his sights on defending the Champions League title after ending the club's long pursuit of the prestigious trophy. He expressed his ambitions ahead of their upcoming match against Serbian club Crvena Zvezda (formerly Red Star Belgrade).
Guardiola acknowledged the significance of winning the Champions League but also pointed out that many teams have won it multiple times, while his team had only clinched it once. He emphasized his pride in achieving this historic victory but stressed the importance of defending the title.
He noted that retaining the trophy is generally less challenging than winning it for the first time. Guardiola's desire to defend the title stems from his past successes with Barcelona, where he won the Champions League twice in three seasons. He mentioned that not winning it consecutively is a regret he hopes to rectify.
Guardiola sees this competition as a new challenge for Manchester City and is eager to give it their best shot. He drew parallels to the achievements of teams like Real Madrid and AC Milan, who won the Champions League consecutively. Guardiola wants his team to strive for that level of success.
However, he remains focused on the immediate task at hand, which is performing well in the group stage and progressing to the last 16. Guardiola stressed the importance of maintaining a high level of performance and not becoming complacent, despite their impressive start in the Premier League.
He also highlighted the need for his players to stay motivated and not relax, even after a string of victories. Guardiola mentioned that the board's relaxation is irrelevant if the players aren't focused and scoring goals.
Guardiola praised his players for their resilience and determination, particularly after a comeback win against West Ham United. He emphasized the importance of each player feeling motivated and credited their incredible mentality to never give up.
Guardiola is determined to defend the Champions League title and is fully aware of the challenges ahead. He wants his team to maintain their high standards and stay motivated throughout the competition.
