Pep Guardiola asserts that for his Manchester City side to be regarded as one of the best teams, they must secure victory in the Champions League. Celebrating their third consecutive Premier League title and fifth in the last six seasons, Manchester City triumphed over Chelsea with a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium amidst a festive atmosphere on Sunday.
Their exceptional unbeaten streak of 24 matches across all competitions has propelled Guardiola's squad toward an extraordinary treble, aiming to emulate rivals Manchester United from the 1998-99 season by claiming the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in a single campaign. The imminent finals against Inter Milan and Manchester United in the Champions League and FA Cup respectively loom large for Manchester City, with Guardiola emphasizing the significance of triumphing against Inter Milan to solidify their status as one of the greatest teams of all time.
In an interview with Sky Sports following his fifth Premier League title, Guardiola remarked,
"To be considered one of the best teams, like United or Liverpool, you have to win the Champions League. However, it is unfair to claim that the Premier League lacks meaning if you don't win it. The Premier League holds great significance, as it encompasses the daily and weekly battles. This club has secured five out of the last six titles, and even six out of the last ten and seven out of the last twelve. It's truly remarkable."
"But it's widely acknowledged that if we want to be recognized as a truly remarkable team, we must win the Champions League. I'm sorry, but I must admit it."
Guardiola further stated,
"When I arrived here, people didn't demand that we win the Champions League, but I understand that our journey won't be complete without it.
"Playing under this pressure is quite exhilarating. If we are unable to achieve it now, sooner or later, we will. We are on the verge, so we must make an attempt."
Since his debut season in management with Barcelona in 2008-09, Guardiola has accumulated 11 top-flight titles, surpassing all other managers in that period and leaving his closest competitor, Massimiliano Allegri, trailing by five titles. The Catalan manager acknowledged Manchester City's "exceptional" accomplishment and expressed his desire for the team to sustain their dominance atop the Premier League. "When we commence the next season, our objective will be to become the first team to win four Premier League titles," Guardiola conveyed to mancity.com.
"We don't need decades to reflect on how remarkable our achievements have been. We possess a sense of having accomplished something extraordinary.
"Next season, every team will aspire to defeat us, as is customary. Mentally, we must prepare ourselves for the challenge of defending our crown. That will be the test.
"We will play with the same quality we possess—both in terms of skill and character. The quality will prevail."
Following their final two Premier League matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, Manchester City will gear up for the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3, followed by the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10.
