Pep Guardiola has said the pressure on Manchester City to win the Champions League has disappeared after success in the competition last season.
City’s record in Europe had been questioned before last season’s Champions League win, as Guardiola’s side beat Inter Milan in the final to complete a historic treble.
The Spaniard had gone 12 years since his last victory in the competition, having failed to win the Champions League with either Bayern Munich or Manchester City before last season, after successes in Europe at Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.
City continue the defence of their crown against Young Boys on Wednesday evening, as the holders look to maintain their 100% record in this season’s competition and take another step towards the knockout rounds.
Ahead of the clash, Guardiola discussed the atmosphere in the City camp as the club look to win back-to-back European crowns.
“My friends in Manchester know they ask me every press conference, ‘When are you going to win it?’,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“Now it disappears.
“It’s nice and we enjoy it for the moment. Travelling all around the world showing the Champions League everywhere but now we try to arrive in the last 16 knowing how difficult this competition is.
“We were at the same level the previous seasons and didn’t win, and then last season we win it.
“We have to try to go through and perform as best as possible to keep this competition.”
Guardiola was asked for his view on how City have started the new season after their treble success and said he has been pleased with the team’s mentality.
“We compete really well in all the games, honestly,” he said.
“Otherwise we would not be close to Spurs right now in the Premier League and six points here [in Champions League]. But everyone is different.
“When you start the season after a poor season with no qualification for Europe, you come into it giving everything.
“The mentality for our players, we would not be in the position we are in the Premier League and with six points are winning in Leipzig, if we did not have the right mentality to compete so far.”
