Manchester City are yet to win a Champions League trophy under Pep Guardiola – or any other manager for that matter – but the Spaniard still maintains the Premier League is ‘harder’ to win.
Last season’s top-flight champions are on course to claim their sixth league title in ten years, needing only a win over Aston Villa on the final day to seal the deal.
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Guardiola is used to winning the Premier League now but still maintains it’s harder than the Champions League
Under Guardiola, City have won the Premier League three times, the League Cup four times and the FA Cup once, but the other major honour, the Champions League, has always eluded them.
Although Guardiola was unable to lift European football’s most prestigious trophy during his time at the Etihad Stadium, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has previously said it was the English top flight who were the toughest. to win.
City will be hoping Liverpool don’t put them on the post at the last second on Sunday with a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, if City don’t take all three points against Steven Gerrard’s Villa.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are just two games away from a possible quadruple with a Champions League final against Real Madrid to come before the end of their season.
However, when speaking ahead of his side’s latest clash, Guardiola was still adamant with the Premier League being the toughest competition.
“I would say [winning the Premier League title] is more difficult,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
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Guardiola says Premier League title is harder to win than Champions League
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Liverpool boss Klopp has won both competitions…
“There are a lot of weeks and games, injury issues, good times and bad times with different situations, tough opponents.
“It’s satisfying because it’s every day. When you fight for the Premier League and are successful at the end, it makes you feel like you enjoy a lot. We are happier in our lives when you win.
“When you win and you win [makes for] good workouts, good environment and good mood. It’s not like the FA Cup or just one game, it’s routine.”
While City have managed to dominate the Premier League this season, it was not the same story in the Champions League.
The Manchester side have been doomed to an ultimate comeback from Real Madrid in the semi-finals, meaning another season without success at the European trophy after losing last season’s final to Chelsea.
But, while Guardiola still refuses to accept that the Champions League is more difficult despite the lack of success with City at the moment, he has made it clear he still holds the competition in high regard.
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The Champions League remains on City’s bucket list
“I’m not saying the Champions League isn’t important – we’re crazy, crazy to win it,” he said.
“We want it, we love it.
“We would like to be in Paris [in the final] next week, but winning 38 games, rather than six, eight or nine games, is different.
“I’ve always liked it, ever since I was a player. The league is beautiful and we’re about to get there. We’re close.
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Liverpool have already won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup this season and it remains to be seen if they can add two more trophies to their roster.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl also shares Guardiola’s view.
Speaking ahead of his side’s game against Champions League finalists and title chasers Liverpool – a match which ended 2-1 against the Reds – the Saints manager said: “It’s always the title that matters most to everyone because it is the most difficult to obtain.
“For me, it’s even more difficult to be consistently at the top for more than 38 Premier League games, than to win the Champions League sometimes.”
Will the difficult nature of the Premier League surface on Manchester City’s final day as they aim to shake off the threat from Liverpool?
Updates will also be live on talkSPORT throughout the afternoon while talkSPORT.com will launch a live blog for all the action.