Why is it so hard to win the Champions League? Because Real Madrid is always there, says Guardiola

The Champions League is the most prestigious football competition in the world. Everyone wants it, and so does Pep Guardiola, who has been denied the trophy since leaving Barcelona. Now he’s come up with an original reason why that’s the case.

You will remember how Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League last season. In the first leg of the semi-final at the Etihad Stadium against Real Madrid, they had the opportunity to score 10 goals, only for the game to end, somewhat mysteriously, just 4-3.

But in the rematch, Mahrez sent the Citizens into the lead and with a two-goal lead, things were already looking promising. By the 90th minute, some fans may have been buying tickets for the final, only for the magic of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to kick in.

Real’s two goals from Rodrigo in stoppage time sent the game into extra time, where Benzema decided the game from the penalty spot. This left Pep Guardiola with nothing to cry about, as he has done every time since 2011, the last time he won the Champions League with Barcelona.

He has now launched a new assault on the trophy, having already secured qualification to the eighth round after four rounds of the group stage.

After the Copenhagen game, he faced the question of why the Champions League is so difficult to win. “Because Real Madrid is there every time,” Guardiola complimented his rival.

For the Spanish giant is the absolute ruler of the competition. It has a historic 14 titles to its name, while second-placed AC Milan has just half. Moreover, Real Madrid has lifted the trophy above its head five times out of the last nine editions, a unique feat.

Guardiola knows so well that Real Madrid will be the Citizens’ biggest rival in the Champions League battle this year as well. After all, Los Blancos may not always play brilliantly and steamroll the opponents, but the team is so experienced and has a winning mentality that it usually finds a way to win.

Like last year in the semi-final against Citizens, in the quarter-final rematch with Chelsea or in the eighth-final against PSG, when Benzema finished off the Parisians with a hat-trick in 17 minutes.

Source: Viaplay, MARCA