Is Manchester City the most unloved and unfairly criticized club in England?
This is the little music that Pep Guardiola himself whispers to journalists, convinced that the successes and regularity in the excellence of his team are not recognized at their fair value.
Six podiums in six seasons on the bench, including four titles, a 2nd place and a 3rd place, in the highest and most competitive championship in the world, should make you almost unassailable.
But that hasn't stopped some from speaking of a "failure" for City this season, after the elimination against Real.
"People say that since this team has never managed to win the Champions League, it's a failure. I absolutely disagree, but I accept it," swept the Spanish coach.
Manchester City Champions of England John SAEKI AFP
"I know people here are obsessed with the Champions League. The day we win it, I'm sure they'll say it's thanks to all the money we spent, not thanks to our work,” he continued.
'Everyone supports Liverpool'
Unlike the C1 2021 final, lost against Chelsea (1-0) and started without a real recovery, or the quarter-final lost against Lyon (3-1), a year earlier, after playing in 3-5-2 for the only time of the season, however, there was not much to reproach the choices of the Catalan on the double confrontation against Real.
Manchester City players after their defeat in the Champions League final against Chelsea on May 29, 2021 in Porto David Ramos POOL/AFP/Archives
Absences in defense prevented the Citizens from making the hole in the first leg (4-3) and they were not the only victims of an incredible turnaround -- from 0-1 to 3-1 in the return -- against Real, this season, in C1.
That didn't stop Guardiola from being further panned by various consultants.
Guardiola would prefer to train players without personality, estimated Patrice Evra, or he would relieve his players of responsibility by overwhelming them with tactical instructions according to Dietmar Hamann...
Manchester City certainly suffers from its image of being too clean, too well thought out, too well oiled.
When he wins, despite the compliments of aesthetes on the quality of his game, it's normal, almost boring.
When he loses, the critics rain down.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola in front of his Liverpool counterpart Jürgen Klopp in the Premier League on November 8, 2020 in Manchester Martin Rickett POOL/AFP/Archives
"Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media, everyone...", even dropped Guardiola recently in a post-match interview.
"Of course Liverpool have an incredible European history. Not so much in the Premier League, as they've only won one title in 30 years, but that's not a problem."
Premier League rather than Champions League
The 2-2 draw with West Ham last Sunday was the first game the Mancunians did not lose, under Pep, after trailing 2-0 at the break.
From left to right John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker with the England champion trophy after Manchester City's 2021 title on May 23, 2021 in Manchester PETER POWELL POOL/AFP/Archives
If Riyad Mahrez had converted his penalty a few minutes from the end, the Citizens could even have won.
"If I had to choose, I would rather win the Premier League" than the Champions League, Kevin De Bruyne said in March.
"In the Champions League, you have to be good at times, but it's more of a lottery than the championship which is played over more matches," he added, assuring that outside opinions were indifferent to him.
"What is posterity? Would what I achieved be more important if I had won the Champions League last year? For me, as a player, no. (...) At the end of my career, I will not look back on what I have not won”, he assured.
And neither is City.
© 2022 AFP