Guardiola: 'My legacy is special without the need for a treble'

Ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg, coach Pep Guardiola affirmed that his legacy with Man City is already very special whether the team wins the treble this season or not.

Man City are the only European club that can aim for a major treble - the league, the cup and the Champions League. If they do, they will repeat the feat of city club Man Utd in the 1998-1999 season.

In the Premier League, the race is almost over when Man City won 3-0 at Everton and Arsenal lost to Brighton with the same score in round 36 last weekend. Man City currently has 85 points, four points more than Arsenal and will officially be crowned champions if they beat Chelsea at Etihad Stadium in the next round on May 21.

Guardiola's team will also face Man Utd in the FA Cup final on June 3 and Real in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals today. The supercomputer Opta rates Man City higher with a 59.1% chance of winning, compared to 19.7% for the royal team.

Guardiola instructs Man City players on the training ground on May 15. Photo: mancity.com — Guardiola instructs Man City players on the training ground on May 15. Photo: *mancity.com*

"What I have achieved with Man City is still special, regardless of what happens in the rest of the season," Guardiola said on May 16 at a press conference ahead of the second leg of the semi-final against Real when asked about the significance of the treble that the team is aiming for. The Spanish coach also admitted that today's rematch with Real is one of the most important matches since he joined Man City in 2016.

"I told the players we are very lucky to be here and to enjoy this moment," Guardiola added. "Everything is in our hands and depends on us. Man City don't have to do anything special, just be ourselves and win a game to get to the final."

Guardiola joined Man City in 2016 and has won every domestic honour, including four Premier League titles, one FA Cup, four League Cups and two Community Shields. However, they have yet to win the Champions League. Man City's best result in this arena was the 2021 final, where they lost 0-1 to Chelsea thanks to the only goal from Kai Havertz.

Guardiola said he was not pressured by the Man City board to win the Champions League, but was only "trying to do the best possible" in this arena, when negotiating the contract. The 52-year-old coach admitted that he was very eager to win the Champions League with Man City, after reaching the final and semi-finals in the last two seasons. "There is no guarantee that Man City will be here again in the future. So, when you reach the semi-finals, try your best. Be united, overcome difficult moments and fight for the fans," he added.

According to Guardiola, Man City must show determination, plan better, adjust a little in tactics, create more chances and get the ball to the strikers in better positions than in the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu a week ago. He also believes that no team is rated higher in today's big match at the Etihad.

Guardiola has been criticised for "overthinking" in big games, having lost seven Champions League semi-finals. The Spaniard joked that he would keep his thinking simple this time, but could not reveal his tactics for fear Carlo Ancelotti would hear. He also confirmed that Kevin de Bruyne was in top form and that the rest of the squad were ready to play, with the exception of Nathan Ake, who is absent due to a hamstring injury.

Hong Duy

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