Pep Guardiola Praises Manchester City's Champions League Consistency

In a testament to their sustained excellence, Pep Guardiola proudly declared that Manchester City has solidified its status among the perennial contenders for Champions League glory.

This proclamation comes on the heels of their seventh consecutive qualification for the quarter-finals, a feat achieved on Wednesday night with a convincing 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen at the Etihad.

Resting Stars and Securing Victory

Guardiola strategically rested several star players as his team secured a 6-2 aggregate triumph. Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez's early goals, within the first 10 minutes, rendered the tie against FC Copenhagen a one-sided affair. Erling Haaland's 29th goal of the season further emphasized City's dominance.

Unmatched Performance Streak

The statistical prowess of Manchester City is formidable, having won 18 and drawn two of their last 20 games across all competitions. As the draw for the Champions League quarters and semi-finals looms on March 15, City remains the team to beat.

Home Fortress

City's stronghold at the Etihad is undeniably impressive, having not suffered a Champions League defeat on home turf since 2018. Additionally, they achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first team in the competition's history to score three or more goals in nine consecutive home games.

Guardiola Reflects on the Journey

Reflecting on the journey, Guardiola acknowledged the club's transformation since his arrival. He highlighted the initial skepticism about their European prospects, given the absence of hierarchy comparable to teams in Spain or Germany. However, he emphasized the credit due to the club's hierarchy for allowing the necessary time and patience to undergo the transformative process.

Guardiola expressed, “The important thing is being there (in the quarter-finals) seven years in a row, it’s quite impressive. We are well-respected from our opponents. The numbers are there – our consistency."

He continued, “I remember when I arrived, we didn’t believe, the club didn’t believe we could do it because we didn’t have the hierarchy in Europe like teams in Spain or Germany. It was a question of time, a process. The problem is the managers in modern football don’t have time. They gave me time, our hierarchy, so credit to them to accept the process. Now we are a team that believe we can do it.”