Pep Guardiola concedes Man City reign is missing one key thing

Pep Guardiola admits that his spell as Manchester City boss ‘will not be complete’ until the club win the Champions League.

The Spaniard has bagged nine trophies since his arrival at City in 2016, including four Premier League titles.

But he has been unable to add to the two Champions League successes he enjoyed with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 – the closest he has to come winning the competition with City was in 2021 when his side lost to Premier League rivals Chelsea in the final.

City are through to the round of 16 of this season’s competition, where they will face Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, and are again regarded by many as the favourites to go all the way.

Guardiola, who recently extended his contract at City until 2025, admits that despite all the success he has enjoyed at the Etihad, his project won’t be complete until he lifts the Champions League once more.

“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,” the 51-year-old said.

“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.”

City return to domestic action after the World Cup break on Thursday with a heavyweight Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool, before resuming their Premier League campaign with a home game against Leeds United on December 28.