Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola names his 2022-23 UEFA Champions League favorites
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named defending champions Real Madrid as favorites for this season's UEFA Champions League (UCL). The Spanish tactician played down City's chances of winning their first-ever UCL title.
Los Blancos won their 14th UCL title last season, defeating Liverpool 1-0 in the final. They got the better of the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and City in the knockout stages.
Guardiola was recently asked about Manchester City's chances in Europe's premier club football tournament ahead of their 2022/23 UCL opener against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
"I get asked every year. Sport always gives you another opportunity. They say we are favorites. But for me, Real Madrid have to be favorites every year," he said (via Daily Mail).
They (Sevilla) won't be concerned with just defending. We have to be prepared because they will be aggressive. This competition is played with a lot of enthusiasm. More so in a stadium like this one. We have to be prepared for that. We have to crank up the pace. PEP 💬 They (Sevilla) won't be concerned with just defending. We have to be prepared because they will be aggressive. This competition is played with a lot of enthusiasm. More so in a stadium like this one. We have to be prepared for that. We have to crank up the pace.
#ManCity
Guardiola also praised Sevilla, who have won six Europa League titles, claiming he would love to have a European history like the La Liga side. He said:
"It depends on our performance. If it's not good then we will take punishments from the fans. I would love to have the story in Europe like Sevilla has.
"Man City is far away from what they have done in Europe. We are going to try again. Win it or not win it? F**k, I don’t know."
"If we rely on his shoulders we are not going to win" - Pep Guardiola on how Erling Haaland could help Manchester City win UCL
Manchester City have made a solid addition to their already star-studded squad in the form of Erling Haaland ahead of this season. The Norwegian has hit the ground running at the Etihad and has already scored 10 goals in six league appearances.
â—‰ Most goals scored in the Premier League this season: Erling Haaland
â—‰ Most assists provided in the Premier League this season: Kevin De Bruyne
🫂 https://t.co/CUuC2XzRrq
However, Guardiola thinks relying solely on the former Borussia Dortmund striker would hamper Manchester City's chances.
"If we rely on his shoulders we are not going to win. I understand completely everyone talks about Erling but I have more new players and I want them to settle.
"We won’t win just because of Erling, but he has a special quality and maybe he can solve the problems we have – definitely. But we have to play good as a team as well. If we don’t, we won’t win."