Pep Guardiola has felt an 'unspoken' demand from his bosses to win the Champions League for at least five years.
The Manchester City manager won the Premier League in his second season in English football, smashing a slew of records on the way to a 100-point season. European glory has constantly eluded them, in a string of disappointing exits including a 2021 final defeat.
Guardiola usually insists that it is not his remit to win the Champions League. However, while nobody may have told him to win the competition he revealed ahead of a second semi-final with Real Madrid in two years that he has felt the need to win it from above.
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"I know the demand from my club to win the Champions League. I had the feeling when I arrived," he said.
"They didn't ask me but I know the feeling that after the first Premier League the target was the Champions League. It's normal. When you don't have one trophy you want it. It's nice, in a good way.
"You cannot become crazy either. It's a football game. Two games to try to do a good one in a special scenario and that is what we have to do."
Guardiola and City may have the target on their backs, but the manager also believes that they will reach their goal one year if not this year. As last season, they approach it with the same objective.
"We arrived here last season with encouragement to get to the final. The way we played was really good in both games but it was not enough. We are not here for revenge, it is just another opportunity.
"As much as we are here, one day we will get it. One day we will reach the final and win it. We come here to do it this season but we did this last season and it didn't happen because Real Madrid knows exactly what you have to do in this competition.
"As much as we play against them, the closer we will be."
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