Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said one of the main reasons he extended his contract with the English champions was to deliver the UEFA Champions League.
He insisted that if City does not win the Champions League, his time as manager will be over.
Guardiola was speaking to the media for the first time since extending his contract at the club.
City have reached the Champions League final once, with a semi-final defeat and three quarter-final exits under him.
Guardiola said that his legacy was largely dependent on the Champions League glory.
“It’s not the only one, but I admit it’s the trophy we want and my period here will not be complete if we don’t win it,” said Guardiola. “But that’s not the only reason [for the contract extension.”
“I will do everything in the time we have together to win it, but I’d say the same as before – it’s the trophy we don’t have and we’ll try to do it. I have the feeling they’ll get it sooner or later. We tried in the past, even in the first season, when we were out in the last 16, so we’ll try with all our strength.”
He further thanked the owners of the club for trusting him to continue in his role as coach.
“I’ve said many times that for what I have here, I want to say thank you for the confidence they have in me. It’s difficult to repay what they have shown me and the confidence they have in me. So it’s difficult for me to reject them. They want me and my staff to continue, and there are not enough words to express my gratitude to everyone in the club for having me here,” he concluded.
Guardiola has won nine major trophies with City, including four English Premier League titles, yet the Champions League has eluded him.
He last won the Champions League, at Barcelona FC twice.
The Citizens will return to League Cup action tonight when they host Liverpool in the fourth round.
