Guardiola has his say on Man Utd’s ‘incredible’ Champions League draw

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is looking forward to his local rival’s game against his former club in the Champions League quarter finals.

After mounting an incredible comeback to knock out Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 Manchester United will have to defy the odds again when they face Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Manchester United v Barcelona: Five things to know…

1. United and Barcelona will play each other over two legs in the Champions League quarter finals.
2. The first leg will kick off at Old Trafford on 10 April.
3. United and Barca have played each other 11 times during their illustrious histories.
4. Barca have won four of those games, one more than United.
5. The Catalans are by far the favourites to win this game.

United don’t have the most exemplary record against the Catalan giants and their last two meetings in the Champions League were especially painful for the Red Devils, who lost on both occasions in the final.

Guardiola, who managed Barca for both of those victories, is looking forward to the hotly anticipated fixture: “Two incredible stadiums, incredible clubs, incredible players on both sides,” the City boss told the Manchester Evening News.

“In the Champions League you get fascinating games and it will be two great games to watch.”

In the last three Champions league competitions in which these sides met, either United or Barca eventually won the competition.

Despite United’s return to form, Barcelona are the clear favourites to win over the two legs, but the Red Devils have already earned surprise victories over Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in the tournament and according to Martin Keown Ole Solskjaer can do it again.

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“On paper, Barcelona should be too strong for United. Lionel Messi blew them away at Wembley in the final eight years ago and his powers are not waning.

“But United have already won at Juventus and PSG this season. Why can’t they add Barcelona to their list of scalps? Premier League teams are strong in Europe once again and I can see United springing a surprise here.”

Guardiola will be judged on Champions League success at City

While Guardiola is looking forward to watching Man Utd play Barcelona, the 48-year-old has his own fish to fry in Europe this term.

Guardiola has enjoyed immense success since joining Manchester City, but the Spaniard has yet to win the big one in Europe.

Guardiola is conscious of the fact that regardless of how many records he breaks in the Premier League, ultimately his record in the Champions League is how posterity will measure his success with the Citizens.

“I was judged in Munich in that way so I will be judged here as well,” Guardiola told reporters (via Reuters).

“My period in Munich wasn’t good for most people because we didn’t get one final. We got semi-finals but we didn’t get a final and we were judged. I’m a lucky guy. My standards are high. I have to reach it.”

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