Pep Guardiola Claims It Will Be ‘Easier’ To Retain Champions League
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that it will be easier for City to retain their Champions League title than it was winning the club’s first one last season.
Guardiola helped Manchester City finally get over its European hump last year during a remarkable season that ended with City winning the Premier League, FA Cup and of course, the UEFA Champions League.
Their European victory came after a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul, finally adding the one trophy that had eluded Guardiola’s dominant City sides to the club’s trophy cabinet.
During a press conference before City’s opening Champions League game against Red Star Belgrade, Guardiola argued that it will be easier for more success to come now that City has finally won their first Champions League title.
“It’ll be easier,” Guardiola said. “The most difficult to win is the first one. It is incredible for us but it is just one,”
While he thinks it will be easier, however, he stressed the importance of not relaxing and being happy with just one European title.
“It’s important the players don’t feel relaxed. For our club to win the Champions League is incredible but in perspective how many [clubs have] won one Champions League? A lot,” he said. “We haven’t done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud.”
Manchester City has been given a relatively straightforward group as they look to mount their title defense. The other teams occupying Group G alongside the defending champions are German side RB Leipzig, Serbian club Red Star Belgrade and Swiss side Young Boys.
While RB Leipzig could cause City problems, Guardiola’s side should take care of business in these games and breeze their way into the knockout stage.
Will City retain their Champions League title this year? Or is Guardiola overconfident in his side’s chances? We will find out starting Tuesday when Manchester City welcomes Red Star to the Etihad Stadium.
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