Pep Guardiola’s Defense Against Critics: Even Legends Lose More Than They Win

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola defends himself by invoking the legends of sports, claiming that even the greatest athletes lose more often than they win. Speaking ahead of their match with Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, Guardiola referenced Michael Jordan and Jack Nicklaus, who are remembered for their successes despite losing more than they won. Guardiola has won the Champions League twice while at Barcelona, but has not lifted the trophy since.

City face Bayern in the first leg of their quarterfinal at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, pitting Guardiola against Thomas Tuchel, the manager who led Chelsea to victory over City in the 2021 Champions League final. Tuchel has only been in charge of Bayern for a few weeks, but Guardiola says he has already made an impact on the team. City and Guardiola will come up against a familiar face on Tuesday night after full-back Joao Cancelo was named in Bayern’s squad to travel to Manchester.

Guardiola is well aware that this is a tough match, saying that “this game, all games, are so difficult.” However, he remains optimistic and is confident that his team can come out on top. He says that while sports can be unpredictable, his team has prepared well for this match and is ready to leave everything on the pitch.