Manchester City’s ascent among the elite has been nothing short of remarkable. Their boss and head coach, Pep Guardiola, has been one of the most pivotal figures in their meteoric rise. He has transformed the club into a force to be reckoned with, both domestically and across Europe. City’s treble triumph last season is a testament to Guardiola’s efforts. However, according to a renowned author, the driving force behind City’s remarkable feat was the sting of defeat in the Champions League the previous season.

Famous Spanish journalist and author, Marti Perarnau, unveiled the untold story behind Guardiola’s triumphant journey. Let’s delve deeper and uncover the motivation that fueled City’s heroics last season as told by the famous author.

Guardiola’s bold response after shocking UCL defeat

In an exclusive conversation with Jordi Baste on El mon a RAC1, Perarnau opened up about the launch of his third book focused on Pep Guardiola’s coaching career. While City’s historic treble victory last season stands as a crowning achievement, Perarnau asserts that it was the bitter taste of Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid in 2022 that ignited a fire within Guardiola and his team.

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Perarnau, delving into Guardiola’s perspective, explained, “The Bernabéu elimination in 2022 did not hurt Pep? True, I asked him if that was his most painful defeat, but he said no. Without that defeat, they would not have won the Champions League.”

The author recalled the tumultuous semi-final clash where Real Madrid orchestrated a stunning comeback, thrashing City’s hopes with a 6-5 aggregate defeat.

Manchester City had won the first leg of the semis 4-3, going into the second leg with a narrow 1 goal lead. But against the then 13 time Champions League winners, every goal matters. In the second leg however, it came to a point when everyone was convinced City would go through. Until Rodrygo struck twice in two stoppage time minutes to take his team to extra time. And that’s when Benzema put the final nail in the coffin, ending Manchester City’s run.

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The defeat left Guardiola and his players reeling, but according to Perarnau, it also catalyzed their future success. Ultimately, City was top-class in the subsequent season and ran out victorious with the treble triumph.

Pep Guardiola is the ‘Cruyff of Manchester City’

Perarnau drew parallels between Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff, the legendary Dutch coach who transformed Barcelona into a powerhouse. He highlighted Guardiola’s ability to channel setbacks into motivation and drive positive change. “Guardiola is the Cruyff of Manchester,” Perarnau stated. “His first year at City was very bitter, so much so that he even questioned his role as a coach.”

However, this period of adversity marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Guardiola orchestrated a series of triumphs that shaped the club’s landscape.

As the current season unfolds, the question now lingers: Can Manchester City defend continue its dominance in Europe? Whether or not Manchester City can conquer Europe yet again this season and successfully defend their Champions League title, Guardiola’s impact on the club and the game of soccer is undeniable.

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