Guardiola defends ‘exceptional’ record

Guardiola defends ‘exceptional’ record – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to his team’s disappointing Champions League exit by defending his “exceptional” track record.

Guardiola’s methods were questioned after a 3-1 loss at Monaco that saw City beaten on away goals in a 6-6 aggregate draw, leaving the FA Cup as their only realistic hope of a trophy.

He won seven trophies across his two debut seasons with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but believes the cut-throat nature of elite football means even winning one trophy is a hugely challenging task.

“I think exceptional other managers in the world sometimes don’t win titles in a season,” Guardiola said ahead of his side’s home game with Liverpool on Sunday.

“That is the normal situation all around the world. The exception is my career. I’m sorry, but that is exceptional.

“So of course we want to win titles. Everyone wants to win titles. We fight for that, we play for that. When that happens we improve and next season we come back and try to win titles.”

Guardiola’s insistence on the word ‘exceptional’ brought to mind the ‘Special One’ moniker earned by Jose Mourinho after he described himself as a “special” manager following his arrival at Chelsea in 2004.

City tackle Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinals on April 23 and Guardiola accepts he will come under scrutiny if he does not lead the club to glory in the competition.

“The boss, the chairman, the sporting director, they are going to decide what’s best for the club,” he told reporters at City’s training base.

“Of course my job depends on winning titles or not and if we’re not winning titles, they judge me about the results. If it’s not good they are going to say ‘bye-bye’.

“I didn’t come here just to have fun and play good. I want to win. I’d be happier to be involved in the draw for the Champions League (quarterfinals).

“That is normal. But it can happen for any manager in the world and that sometimes you don’t win. That I know.”