It took Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola into his second season before he began to win silverware (2017/18 Premier League and League Cup champions). Now into his third Champions League campaign is it time Pep got rid of the UCL curse?
I call it a curse as he’s not had the best of UCL luck has he (details to follow)?
Bookies favourites to win this years domestic and European competitions Pep Guardiola has it all to do if he is to replicate what he achieved during the 2008-09 and 2010-11 campaigns when he won the holy grail as Barcelona boss.
Could 2018/19 become Pep’s Champions League hat-trick?
Thousands of former and current club managers would snap your hand off to have similar European records, but City’s owners are eager, by waiting ten years since the takeover to win the one remaining trophy on their bucket list – Champions League glory.
How much patience do they have? Would they be prepared to splash the cash if the club failed, again?
Pep at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and the UCL curse
Unlucky or a curse – you decide.
I’ve already mentioned when Pep won the Champions League, but what has he done since.
2011/12 – Barcelona – semi-final
Lost to Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate.
2012/13 – Not a manager
2013/14 – Bayern Munich – semi-final
Lost to Real Madrid 5-0 on aggregate.
2014/15 – Bayern Munich – semi-final
Lost to Barcelona on aggregate 5-3.
2015/16 – Bayern Munich – semi-final
Lost to Atletico Madrid on away goals having drawn 2-2 on aggregate.
2016/17 – Manchester City – Round of 16
Aggregate 6-6 but Monaco went through on away goals.
2017/18 – Manchester City – quarterfinal
Lost 5-1 on aggregate to Liverpool.
2018/19 – Manchester City – TBC
Can Pep become a hat-trick hero?