Pep Guardiola says his legacy is ‘exceptional’ even if Man City loses to Real Madrid

At occasions the stress of profitable the Champions League has appeared an excessive amount of for Manchester City’s gamers to bear.

Real Madrid, alternatively, retains on setting new requirements in European membership soccer’s elite competitors.

That distinction between the rivals is simply one of many explanation why Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal is so compelling, with the sport delicately poised at 1-1 after the primary leg.

City has spent greater than $1 billion on a number of the world’s best expertise, however has repeatedly fallen quick on Europe’s greatest stage.

Not even Pep Guardiola — a two-time winner as coach of Barcelona — has been in a position to change that. And with every passing 12 months, the stress on him grows to win the one main trophy to elude City underneath the possession of Abu Dhabi’s ruling household.

“The club is missing that one (trophy) and (with) the owners and the amount of money they have pumped into this club and the investment they have done, we owe that to them,” City defender Kyle Walker on Tuesday.

There is nothing to separate the groups after the primary leg in Madrid final week and the winner would be the favourite to elevate the trophy. Inter Milan and AC Milan had been enjoying within the different semifinal on Tuesday, with Inter main 2-0 from the primary leg.

Guardiola didn’t share Walker’s opinion in regards to the debt that wants to be repaid to City’s homeowners. He has persistently dismissed options that there is undue stress on him to ship the Champions League, having dominated English soccer throughout his seven years in cost.

“My legacy is already exceptional,” he stated. “We have been here many times. We are not stupid, we know how important it is. Maybe one of the most important (games) since we are together for the competition, the rival, and many things.”

Guardiola is getting ready to main City to a fifth Premier League title in six years and is in rivalry to win a treble of trophies this season, together with the Champions League and FA Cup.

If something, it has felt like Guardiola has heaped the stress on himself to conquer Europe for a 3rd time as a supervisor. That expectation has appeared to have an effect on his group’s performances at crunch factors on this competitors.

City’s exits have are available a number of the wildest circumstances and customarily towards opponents they had been anticipated to beat, reminiscent of Monaco, Tottenham and Lyon.

Winning positions have repeatedly been squandered, with none extra dramatic than final 12 months’s loss within the second leg of the semifinals towards Madrid when City led 5-3 on combination going into the ninetieth minute on the Bernabeu, however proceeded to lose 6-5 after additional time.

By distinction, Madrid has discovered methods to get itself out of the tightest spots within the European Cup, having gained it a document 14 occasions. The Spanish big has been in 11 semifinals prior to now 13 years.

If City has choked on too many events, no membership relishes the large event greater than Madrid.

“It is special for Real Madrid because of the history we have in the tournament,” coach Carlo Ancelotti stated. “It is a club that has a special power to stay alive.”

It is 12 years since Guardiola final gained the Champions League with Barcelona. Despite teaching two of Europe’s strongest groups in Bayern Munich and City in that point, he has solely reached another ultimate — dropping to Chelsea in 2021.

He has by no means gained the competitors with out assistance from Lionel Messi, who was the driving power of his Barcelona group.

His failure to win with City has come throughout a interval wherein he has dominated English soccer.

“If you think you are the best team in the world it doesn’t make it 100% sure you’ll win,” Ancelotti stated when it was put to him that many consider City to be the best group in Europe proper now. “It’s not just quality in a semifinal. It can be personality, mentality, character.”

Wednesday’s recreation may present how a lot City has realized from its disappointments in Europe.

It confirmed its maturity within the first leg when coming away with a 1-1 draw after Madrid dominated for lengthy durations.

City’s dwelling document within the Champions League can even be a supply of encouragement, having gone 25 video games with out defeat at Etihad Stadium.

“I’ve told the players to live it as a huge opportunity and enjoy the moment,” Guardiola stated. “We are incredibly lucky to be here. It’s in our hands, it depends on us. We don’t have to do anything exceptional, just be ourselves and win one game to reach the final.

“We’ll do the whole lot, I’ve an unbelievable feeling in regards to the group.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.