Why Pep hasn't won the champions league with Manchester City

Pep Guardiola is a highly regarded football manager who has had a lot of success in his career, including with Manchester City in the Premier League. However, his tenure at Manchester City has been defined by their struggles to win the Champions League. Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 with the aim of turning the football odds in his favour and bringing the Champions League trophy to the club for the first time in its history. Despite his success in domestic competitions, he has been unable to achieve this goal, with Manchester City coming up short in the competition every year. There have been various reasons for Manchester City's struggles in the Champions League under Guardiola. One of the main factors has been their inability to translate their domestic form to the European stage. Some critics argue that Guardiola's tactics are too complex and demanding for his players to execute consistently in the Champions League.

Tough competition

The Champions League is one of the most competitive football tournaments in the world, and winning it requires a lot of skill, strategy, and luck. Manchester City has faced a number of opponents in the Champions League over the years. Some of their notable opponents include:

1. Barcelona: Manchester City has faced Barcelona in the Champions League several times in recent years, including in the Round of 16 in 2014, 2015, and 2016. They were knocked out by Barcelona in all three of these ties.
2. Real Madrid: Manchester City has also faced Real Madrid in the Champions League, including in the semi-finals in 2016 and the Round of 16 in 2020. They were able to defeat Real Madrid in both of these ties.
3. Liverpool: Manchester City faced Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2018, where they were eliminated after losing both legs of the tie.
4. Tottenham Hotspur: Manchester City faced Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2019, where they were eliminated by away goals after a dramatic tie that saw them win the second leg 4-3.
5. Paris Saint-Germain: Manchester City faced Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2016 and the semi-finals in 2021. They were able to defeat Paris Saint-Germain in both of these ties.

Injuries

Injuries to key players have also been a major factor in Manchester City's Champions League struggles. Manchester City has faced several injuries to key players in the Champions League over the years. Kevin De Bruyne is one of Manchester City's key players and has been a crucial part of their success in the Champions League. However, he has suffered several injuries in the competition, including a knee injury in the 2018/19 season that kept him out of the quarter-final tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Sergio Aguero is Manchester City's all-time leading scorer and has been a prolific goalscorer in the Champions League. However, he has also been plagued by injuries, including a knee injury that kept him out of the knockout stages of the competition in the 2019/20 season. Aymeric Laporte was a key part of Manchester City's defence and has been instrumental in their success in the Premier League. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund in the 2020/21 season, which kept him out of the second leg. Ilkay Gundogan has been another key player for Manchester City and has been in excellent form in the Champions League in recent seasons. However, he suffered a knee injury in the Round of 16 tie against Basel in the 2017/18 season, which kept him out of the rest of the competition.

Tactical flexibility

Guardiola is known for his innovative and attacking style of play, but this can sometimes be a disadvantage in the Champions League. The tournament often requires teams to be more pragmatic and defensive-minded, especially in the knockout stages. Guardiola has been criticized for being too stubborn in his tactical approach and not adapting to the demands of the competition.

Mental Toughness

Winning the Champions League also requires a strong mentality and the ability to handle pressure. Manchester City has had some disappointing results in the competition, including a 4-0 loss to Barcelona in 2016 and a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in 2018, which have raised questions about the team's mental toughness in high-pressure situations.

Luck

Finally, luck is always a factor in football, and sometimes a team can be unlucky in key moments. Manchester City has suffered from some unlucky incidents in the Champions League over the years, such as controversial refereeing decisions. For example, in the 2019/20 season, they were denied a clear penalty in the quarter-final tie against Lyon, which could have changed the outcome of the game. Football is a game of fine margins, and sometimes, the bounce of the ball can make all the difference. Manchester City has been unlucky in some key moments in the Champions League where the ball has not bounced their way. In the 2018/19 season, they had a late goal ruled out by VAR in the quarter-final tie against Tottenham Hotspur, which ultimately saw them eliminated from the competition. Overall, winning the Champions League is a difficult task that requires a combination of skill, strategy, luck, and mental toughness. Guardiola and Manchester City will need to address these factors if they are to finally lift the trophy.