Returnee Pep Guardiola seemed overwhelmed by the request to test his German before the game against FC Bayern, but the Catalan finally completed the task very confidently.
“Ui, I’m trying,” said the Manchester City team manager before the quarter-final second leg in the Champions League at his ex-club Bayern Munich on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) – and started smiling.
“I had an incredible time here with my family. The club is extraordinary, I have many, many friends here,” enthused the 52-year-old about his three years (2013 to 2016) with the German record champions without an accident. But it became clear that despite the reassuring 3-0 lead from the first leg, he has no gifts to give.
“Being back in this incredible stadium – I hope the fans will stay calm. I’m here to win,” said the star coach: “After the game, I’m sure I’ll see a lot of people, that’s it everything.”
Guardiola continues to chase the CL title
Guardiola won three German championships and two doubles with Bayern, but in the premier class the successor to triple winner Jupp Heynckes always ended up in the semifinals. Even with City, where he has been officiating for seven years, he has been chasing the handle pot that he won with FC Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 so far in vain.
Despite the good starting position, Guardiola warned in English at the beginning of his press conference against underestimating Bayern. “I was at this club, I know how they tick, you can feel it everywhere, it’s in their skin, they believe in it,” he said – but that also applies to City, the Guardiola to four championships, four League Cup wins and one FA Cup success led: “We must fight to the end!”
