Manchester City lifted their first UEFA Champions League title with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in June.
Pep Guardiola’s team will begin their campaign to defend their European Cup title by hosting Red Star Belgrade mid-week. In the pre-match press conference, the Spanish strategist said that Man City’s title defense will be easier than the long-term effort to conquer the most prestigious Cup at European football club level.
Coach Pep Guardiola in the press conference room.
“Everything will be easier. The hardest thing is to win first. It’s unbelievable for us,” Guardiola told reporters. “But that’s just one.”
Although very proud of the title won with Man City, the 52-year-old coach believes that his team still has a long journey to join the group of the greatest clubs on the old continent.
“The fact that our club won the Champions League is unbelievable, but from the perspective of how many teams have won the Champions League once? A lot.”
“We haven’t done anything special with just one Cup, but we are extremely proud.”
Meanwhile, Kyle Walker said that the treble is now a thing of the past and his team will start again to conquer new heights.
“What we have done is in the past, now is the new season. The coach drew the map and took us to the bottom of the mountain and now we have to climb again. Continuing to move forward is the difference between a Good team and a great team.”
Nam Thanh | 22:46 September 18, 2023
