Has Pep failed at Man City if he doesn't win Champions League?

James Shearman

• Updated: 4 May 2022 19:35 BST
• 3 min read

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City take on Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, with a 4-3 first-leg advantage.

Guardiola's side will he hoping to face off against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the Paris final at the end of the month.

The two managers are obviously desperate to win the competition, but there is certainly more at stake for the Spaniard and his team.

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Guardiola has earned a reputation of getting things wrong in the big Champions League fixtures in his time at City, which many people believe have cost them a title or more.

He has had the best squad to work with on numerous occasions, including this season - and has spent over €1 billion at City on transfers - so it is only fair to blame him for the club's lack of European success.

Indeed, Guardiola has been impeccable in domestic competition. But, his time in England, as is the case with his tenure at Bayern, will be deemed a failure should he fail to deliver in the biggest club competition.

Pep's Champions League failings at Man City

In 2017, City faced a talented Monaco side, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao, but one that were easily beatable.

Yet, a 3-1 first-leg away win proved not to be enough as a shocking 5-3 home defeat inaugurated the list of Guardiola's Champions League failings at Manchester City.

A year later, Guardiola faced Klopp at the quarter-final stage, losing 3-0 at Anfield as Fernandinho experienced a particularly difficult night.

In the return fixture, the Spaniard opted for an interesting 3-3-1-3 formation which could only manage a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

In 2019, City fell victim to Tottenham's remarkable Champions League run under Mauricio Pochettino.

Son Hueng-min's first-leg winner proved decisive as the second leg finished 2-2 amid last-minute VAR controversy.

In perhaps the most humiliating of losses, the Citizens were knocked out of the quarter-finals in 2020 at the hands of Lyon.

Guardiola fielded an uncharacteristically defensive lineup, yet still conceded three goals to a far inferior collection of talent.

And, most recently, the City boss came under criticism for his team selection in last season's Champions League final against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea.

Having lost to the Blues in their two previous encounters, he decided against playing a defensive midfielder, a decision that played a part in Kai Havertz' title-winning goal.