Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must follow in the footsteps of Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich to prove they are a truly great side.
City are in pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple this season, but Guardiola believes his side need to achieve silverware on a season-to-season basis to be considered one of the best.
Can Man City emulate the best clubs of the past decade? Five key things to know…
- Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich have dominated their respected leagues over the past decade.
- Since 2008/09, Barcelona have won seven La Liga titles, Bayern Munich seven Bundesliga titles and Juventus seven Serie A titles.
- Guardiola led City to a record-breaking Premier League title last season, as well as the EFL Cup.
- But the Spaniard believes the club need to “imitate” their European rivals and win titles on a more consistent basis.
- City have the chance to win the quadruple this season but Guardiola has played down his side’s chances of doing so.
Guardiola was in charge of Barca between 2008 and 2012 and took the helm in Bavaria between 2013 and 2016. He believes City must take inspiration from his former projects and assert domestic authority to achieve greatness.
“I’ve said many times: what are the best teams in the last decade? Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona,” Guardiola told the Manchester Evening News.
“These are the three best teams in Europe. Why? Because every season they win the league, every season they win the cups, every season they are there. Because they are the best.
“We can – not get close to them, because it’s difficult – but imitate them. Being in the competition until the last stages. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not, but be there. That’s what I want.
“That is when you become a better team and a better club. The best teams have to imitate these three teams, not the other ones.”
Guardiola believes these clubs are so successful because once a title is won their attention immediately refocuses to the next, rather than ruminating on their current success.
He added: “When I said Bayern Munich, Juventus, Barcelona are the best, it’s because it doesn’t matter what happened before, they go again.
“That’s the most difficult thing. Win one title, two titles, that can happen. But that consistency, every three days for 11 months during 10 years, that’s what I respect and admire the most.
“That will be my dream. Every single game and competition we try to do that. And so far, we have done it.”
Guardiola takes his side to Tyneside tonight as City lock horns with Newcastle in the Premier League.
‘Our rivals are quicker and smarter’
While looking to emulate his former clubs, Guardiola also conceded that they are operating on a much more meticulous and intellectual scale when it comes to recruitment.
The 48-year-old lamented his side’s failure to secure the signature of Dutch sensation Frenkie de Jong, who opted to sign for Barcelona for a reported £65m deal.
Guardiola has made no secret of his desire to secure a central midfielder after losing out on Jorginho to Chelsea in the summer.
The City boss has conceded that his side must “adapt” if they are to compete with the likes of Juve, Bayern and Barca.
“We have to be quicker, faster and don’t get nervous,” Guardiola said.
“Everybody can pay a lot in fees and wages. Before the rumours were that it was just Paris St-Germain and Manchester City. That is over.
“The others are quicker and smarter, like we try to do. There are many and sometimes we can’t compete with that. We have to be quicker and smarter and try to buy the players. We have to adapt.
“It’s difficult to buy top, top players at a good price. It’s almost impossible.
“Maybe we have to trust in the young players and help them develop their own personality here.”
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