Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, expressed confidence that defending their Champions League title will be a less arduous task compared to their journey to win it for the first time. City secured their maiden Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in June, ending years of heartbreak in the competition.
Guardiola shared his thoughts on City’s chances of retaining the title ahead of their Group G opener against Red Star Belgrade. He stated, “It’ll be easier. The most difficult to win is the first one. It is incredible for us but it is just one.”
However, Guardiola emphasized that his players should not become complacent, saying, “Tomorrow is the first step. We will try and get the first three points. It’s important the players don’t feel relaxed.”
Despite their Champions League triumph, Guardiola stressed that winning it once doesn’t make them unique, and many clubs have achieved that feat. He added, “We haven’t done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud.”
Guardiola also provided an injury update, noting that Jack Grealish, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic would still be unavailable for the upcoming match, but he hoped they would return soon to boost the squad.
Kyle Walker, an England defender for City, echoed Guardiola’s sentiment, emphasizing the team’s motivation to continue striving for success in the new season. Walker stated, “What we’ve done is in the past now, it’s a new season. The manager drew a diagram and had us at the bottom of the mountain, and we have to climb it again. Going again is what separates good teams from great teams.”
