Pepu2019s Real nightmare Man City boss Guardiola fears sack if EPL holders fail to beat Madrid in upcoming Champions League clash London: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he could be sacked if he fails to beat Real Madrid in the Last 16 of the Champions League ( first- leg on February 26).
Guardiola has won five major trophies in three seasons at the Etihad, but a failure to progress beyond the quarter- finals of the Champions League has been the big disappointment of his reign.
Cityu2019s EPL struggle Guardiolau2019s side trail Liverpool at the top of the Premier League by 22 points this season with their campaign now set to be judged on how they fare in Europe. u201c I want to win the Champions League. I dream [ of it] and I will enjoy preparing for the games against Madrid,u201d Guardiola said. u201c If we donu2019t beat them, OK, come the chairman or the sport director and say, u2018 Itu2019s not good enough, we want the Champions League, Iu2019m going to sack you.u2019 I donu2019t know [ if this would happen]. It has happened many times and could maybe happen.u201d Guardiola has a contract at the Etihad until the end of next season. And he is expected to fulfil his deal and enter a fifth season at one club for the first time in his managerial career.
u2018 Trophies arenu2019t everythingu2019 But Guardiola hit back at the suggestion that the success or failure of a season should only be measured in trophies.
u201c We give a bad, bad message for the new generation, for our kids, to just count the winner, the trophies to win,u201d added Guardiola. u201c You say the season is a disaster but if you win the Champions League it will be exceptional. Why? It is difficult to win it. If you donu2019t, we can say in more than 100 years of history [ there] were 100 failure seasons for Manchester City. That is not true.u201d AFP Pepu2019s European record with City 2016- 17: Round of 16 ( lost on away goals to Monaco) 2017- 18: Quarter- final ( Lost 5- 1 to Liverpool) 2018- 19: Quarter- final ( Lost on away goals to Tottenham) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. pic/ Getty Images
