Pep Guardiola Admits Man City Will Be Perceived as Failures Should They Fail to Win Champions League

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that critics will view his club's season as a failure should they fail to win the Champions League. The

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that critics will view his club's season as a failure should they fail to win the Champions League.

The reigning Premier League champions currently lead Group F with nine points, three ahead of their next opponents Olympique Lyonnais in second, and can book their place in the last 16 with a win in France. 

Preparing to turn a wrong ❌ to a right... ✓ We're training hard for our second test against Lyon! #olvcity #mancity pic.twitter.com/V7L1tDQIpC

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 26, 2018

Speaking ahead of the game however, Guardiola has acknowledged that City will be criticised this season should they fail to win the competition; although his only focus for now is reaching the knockout stages. 

As quoted by The Guardian, he said: "For the people who don’t love us too much, who use money as an argument, then we have failed if we don’t win the Champions League. 

"For the other people, especially our fans, the people who say, ‘OK, we enjoy watching our games, we are happy with what the guys are doing’, I am pretty sure they don’t have regrets about what these guys are doing for the last 12, 14, 15 months every three days.

"But we want to qualify [for the last 16], continue that level in the Premier League, being solid away and at home, and arrive in the best condition possible [at that stage] with everyone fit and [ready to] compete."

Since Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008, City's best performance in the Champions League has been reaching the semi-finals in the 2015/16 season, losing to eventual winners Real Madrid. 

City enter the game at the OL Stadium with injuries to Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, although the Spaniard revealed he won't be reluctant to start Phil Foden.

Better get an early night bro @sterling7 😂💤 #UCL pic.twitter.com/a7fjcU8PmG

— Phil Foden (@PhilFoden) November 26, 2018

Speaking about the 18-year-old, he added: "Every time he has played he’s played good, pre-season, 90 minutes, always good. When you ask I always say he’s part of the squad and he’s definitely ready."