GUARDIOLA: The Premier League is the hardest title to win
According to the Spanish manager, the biggest title in Europe isn't the most difficult to win, but the Premier League.
When Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2016, many felt that the owners were bringing the world's best manager with a single objetive, winning the UEFA Champions League and becoming the best team in Europe.
Six years on, City have come closer to achieving that goal than ever before under Guardiola, making it to the final in 2020/21 and then to the semifinals in 2021/22. However according to the Spanish manager, the biggest title in Europe isn't the most difficult to win.
Guardiola hasn't won the Champions League since leaving Barcelona in 2012
"The [Premier League] is more difficult [to win]", said Guardiola today in a press conference. "Lot of weeks, games, injuries, good and bad moments, different situations. The success is being there in the last years... Fighting for the Premier League gives the sense you enjoy the locker room".
City could win their fourth Premier League in five seasons should they match Liverpool's result next Sunday. The Citizens host Aston Villa while the Reds will be playing Wolverhampton at Anfield.
"I'm not saying the Champions League is not important" admitted the former Barcelona manager. "We'd love to be in Paris next week. Always, to win 38 games, or six or seven games is different. Always I like it, it's nice. We are close".
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Guardiola explained that the mood in the Manchester City training ground is good and that the players are confident of getting the result they need to win the Premier League. "We are happier in our lives when you win and win it by making good training and environment. It's not just one game like the FA Cup, it's a consistent team. You want to change different things, experiences. In terms of the Premier League, it's more every day, it's nice".
The Spanish manager also spoke about keeping his team hungry and how quickly that winning feeling can go away: "Before we won the first Premier League title, it would be the most incredible moment of our lives. The day after you feel, 'Oh'. The day after, the sun rises, and people start to demand more. Satisfaction is there, but after one, two days, it's forgotten".
Should Manchester City win this season's Premier League, it would be Guardiola's 10th league title in his career
However, it's clear he understands and knows how to live with that pressure. "It has to be like that. It's nice, we have incredible focus to try do it. In the end, the feeling hasn't changed. We try to be ourselves, do what we need to do. Football is emotional, but it's a game. The game means luck, a thousand things you cannot control".
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