Pep Guardiola has hit back at critics who blame his ‘overthinking’ for Manchester City’s failure to win the Champions League.
City have won four Premier League titles since Guardiola became manager in 2016, but the Spaniard has so far failed to take his side all the way in the Champions League.
City were eliminated at the last-16 stage by Monaco in 2016/17, and in the three seasons that followed fell to Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Lyon in the quarter-finals.
In 2020/21 City reached the final but lost 1-0 to Chelsea, a result that – like their previous heart-breaks – was widely pinned on Guardiola’s team selection tweaks.
The idea that he has a habit of ‘overthinking’ City’s big European clashes – by making, for example, unnecessary tactical tweaks – is something Guardiola has always strongly denied.
Speaking ahead of City’s quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich this week, the manager’s message was no different.
“I ‘overthink’ because we lose,” he said.
“I get criticised for overthinking when I lose. If a shot goes in, we win. I have to accept this. I’m a genius when I overthink and we win. I do what I think is the right decision in the moment.
“Before the game, I plan for this reason and this reason… If it happens, I’m right, if it doesn’t, I’m not.”
If City are to get their hands on ‘Ol’ Big Ears’ this season, then they are going to have to do it the hard way. Bayern Munich stand in their way in the quarter-finals, while Real Madrid or Chelsea await in the semi-finals.
While the competition holds a special place in Guardiola’s heart – at Barcelona he won it as both a player and manager – it is not the be-all and end-all.
“I definitely want to win the Champions League, but you have to earn it,” he said.
“People always say I’m here to win the Champions League. My dream is to keep trying to win all the competitions and here we are again in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.”
Tuesday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium will be Bayern’s first since Julian Nagelsmann was sacked. Sitting in the dugout will be Thomas Tuchel, the man who masterminded Chelsea’s win against City in the final two years ago.
When asked how he felt about going up against Tuchel again, Guardiola was unperturbed.
“I congratulated him [Thomas Tuchel] and Chelsea. It happened. It wasn’t as bad as I thought when I watched it again.
“I don’t live in the past.”
