Since Guardiola took over as coach in 2016, City has won nine major championships, but they haven’t yet captured any European silverware. During the World Cup break from the Premier League season, Guardiola extended his contract with City through 2025.
In 2021, they came the closest to winning the Champions League, but Chelsea prevailed in the championship game.
Guardiola noted, “it’s not the only one but I admit it’s the trophy we want and my period here will not be complete if we don’t win it.”
Aside from the final loss in Portugal, they also lost to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the previous season, lost three times in the quarterfinals, and lost to Monaco in the last 16 to begin Guardiola’s reign.
“I will do everything in the time we have together but I’d say the same before. It’s the trophy we don’t have and we’ll try to do it. I have the feeling they’ll get it sooner or later.”
In the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Thursday, City will visit Liverpool in an attempt to become just the sixth team to win the English crown in three straight seasons.
RB Leipzig of Germany will be City’s opponent in the round of 16 of this year’s edition.
As the most successful manager in the competition’s history, Guardiola is tied with Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Jose Mourinho after winning the cup four times.
At the beginning of this week, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri, and the Spanish combo of Rodri and Aymeric Laporte returned to training.
Guardiola remarked, “Step by step they come back,” said Guardiola. “We are happy they are back.
“I have the feeling those who were at the World Cup are in better condition than players who weren’t because the players who didn’t go lack the rhythm.”
