Pep Guardiola: Barcelona & Bayern Munich 'would have sacked' Man City boss

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I'd be sacked at a big club - Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he would have been sacked by former clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich if he had ended a season without a trophy.

City have failed to win any silverware in Guardiola's debut season, and are not yet guaranteed a top-four Premier League finish with two games to play.

Guardiola's side lost in the Champions League last 16, FA Cup semi-finals and League Cup fourth round.

"In my situation at a big club, I'm sacked. I'm out," said the Spaniard.

"If it is Barcelona and Bayern, you don't win and you are out. Here I have a second chance and I will try to do it better next season."

City may have to win both of their final league games to secure third place ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal and clinch direct qualification into next season's Champions League.

They host eighth-placed West Brom on Tuesday before Sunday's trip to Watford, who are 16th.

Premier League

The former Spain international succeeded Manuel Pellegrini as City manager last summer, arriving with high expectations after success-packed spells at both Barcelona and Bayern.

A former Barca midfielder, the 46-year-old led the Catalan club to 14 trophies in four years, including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, between 2008 and 2012.

After taking a year-long sabbatical, he joined German giants Bayern in 2013 and won the Bundesliga in each of his three seasons at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern also won the German Cup in twice in that period, but Guardiola could not steer them past the Champions League semi-finals.

City fans hoped his arrival would lead to their first Premier League title in three seasons, but, despite winning their opening six games, they have faced a battle to finish in the top four.

Fifth-placed Arsenal are hoping to take advantage if City drop points over the next two games, but Guardiola has dismissed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's concern that "some teams are on holiday".

"I never saw one player in my life go to the pitch and not try to win the game," he said.

"Arsenal play against Sunderland and Everton - one is relegated and one is in the Europa League - so it is the same situation."

City's season under Guardiola
Premier League4th**with two games remaining
Champions LeagueLast 16Lost on away goals to Monaco (6-6 on agg)
FA CupSemi-finalsLost 2-1 to Arsenal (aet)
League CupFourth roundLost 1-0 to Manchester United

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306 comments

  • Comment posted by Alexandre LackOfThreat, at 22:44 15 May 2017

    I would sack him based on the fact he believes a goalkeeper's passing ability is more important than their GOALKEEPING ability.

  • Comment posted by stanlington85, at 23:51 15 May 2017

    It's okay, Pep, we all think City are a small club too.

  • Comment posted by dacian_prime, at 23:57 15 May 2017

    the difference is that Bayern and Barca only have a couple of teams competition. the rest are cannon fodder.. in England everyone will try and give you a game even if they don't win

  • Comment posted by U16670938, at 22:48 15 May 2017

    If you want to be rid of trolls on these HYS pages, then ignore them. Trust me, attention seeking losers despise being ignored more than anything else.

  • Comment posted by U15034947, at 00:51 16 May 2017

    Shows how little Pep has gathered about UK football in the past year.
    Barca & Bayern don't play in leagues with 5 or 6 possible title winners (not including Leicester City.??)
    If Man City were expected to win this year, they'd have certainly beaten Leicester last year, with essentially the same squad.?
    Spain, Italy & Germany all have top clubs
    England has the most competitive league

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 23:04 15 May 2017

    "In my situation at a big club, I'm sacked"

    So, Pep admits City aren't a big club? At least we agree on something...

    In all seriousness though, it's a tough league, not fair to expect him to guarantee trophies every season.

    You'd hope he'd learn something from how this season has gone, but I expect he'll stay rigid in his approach and struggle. Needs to value goalkeeping and defence.

  • Comment posted by Melomorphox, at 23:14 15 May 2017

    Pep says: "In my situation at a big club, I'm sacked. I'm out,"

    He might have done well to think a little longer before blurting out that line! It gives an interesting insight into how he sees the club.

  • Comment posted by Maxpaulthespurdog, at 23:34 15 May 2017

    Interesting thread. I do not really like to comment on others teams threads but this one appears to be a open forum. As a manager I really like Pep he is honest and plain speaking in his interviews. The PL has come as a bit of a shock to him. I really do think he will do better next season. The fact that he has managed top teams where the league,s are not so competitive has been noticeable.

  • Comment posted by gewman, at 02:33 16 May 2017

    geez even i could lead bayern to the bundesliga title...

  • Comment posted by U16278177, at 08:00 16 May 2017

    The EPL isn't perfect, but look at the number of leagues that are 2 (or 1) horse races.

    We have a healthier league with at least 4 or 5 clubs usually in the mix in April. It is nice to have Tottenham and Liverpool back in the mix too and Leicester showed that occaisionally miracles can happen. Heading into next season an we have Ars, MU, MC, TH, Liv, Che that all have a decent chance.

  • Comment posted by Rovlad, at 05:19 16 May 2017

    Why did he actually say this obvious thing? What is he trying to achieve by doing this? ManCity gave him a rare (for a top club manager) opportunity to learn on the job and tolerated his blunders. So, he should really say "thanks, I learnt my lessons and will get better next season" but he didn't. Does he want out?

  • Comment posted by DMT, at 07:12 16 May 2017

    It pays tribute to the competitiveness of the Premier Lg that no matter who the big shot name, or unlimited finances there is no guarantee of silverware here, unlike Spain or Germany where 2 possibly 3 clubs win everything, and sack managers even after they have won the CL the previous season. Not the highest standard maybe but we have the most exciting and competitive league anywhere.

  • Comment posted by col1962, at 23:27 15 May 2017

    If City fail to get thru the Champions League group stages he'll be sacked before Xmas, he's got a lot of work to do, a new GK is a must, new fullbacks and a plan B because pretty football all the time doesn't cut it in the PL

  • Comment posted by gelsi, at 23:13 15 May 2017

    Pep would have done better with Joe Hart, his ego cost him in all four competitions and everyone knows it. Must be excruciating for the owners. Pep better win big next year or he gone with the bath water!

  • Comment posted by Ruffshank Dufflebonk, at 23:00 15 May 2017

    Mark , if you are going to be a big headed arrogant know it all then get a season ticket for that lot in Trafford. True City fans don't act that way. If we don't win another cup then that puts us in the same bracket as most of the leagues teams. You don't see the Rochdale and Burton fans crying. Win or lose it's the love of the team that's important.

  • Comment posted by nathanhart150, at 22:55 15 May 2017

    The difference is that Munich and Barcelona are actually good..

  • Comment posted by Stevie, at 02:05 16 May 2017

    So Pep agrees that City aren't a big club. Sounds like he wants to be sacked. It sounds like he wants out.

  • Comment posted by JeffFew, at 08:36 16 May 2017

    That's the difference between those leagues and the best league in the world. In France and Germany, there is one dominant team that expects silverware. Spain and Scotland have two. England has at least seven genuine title contenders, and another 8 or so with FA Cup ambitions, so most years you have to expect you will not win anything.

  • Comment posted by You Stupid Boy, at 08:32 16 May 2017

    Pellegrini was doing a fantastic job at City. The club really shot themselves in the foot when they let him go.

  • Comment posted by MrRight, at 04:22 16 May 2017

    Hahahahahahahahahaha

    I like this dude, but I am not certain he is a great coach!

    Some folks say he didn't buy the players that play his game... huh, if any coach can buy the players they want, then what's the point being a coach? It's like playing FIFA and selecting best 11 players in the system....

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