Rio Ferdinand insists Pep Guardiola can not yet be described as a ‘success’ at Manchester City until he wins the Champions League.
For all of the trophies Guardiola has secured at Manchester City, the Champions League has eluded him in England.
More than once, the Manchester outfit have dominated on the domestic front. But the same can not be said of their performances at continental level.
Ahead of City’s quarter-final game with Lyon, Guardiola claimed his domestic honors and friendships since he joined the club are enough for him to be seen as a ‘success’.
Rio Ferdinand seems to disagree. The Manchester United legend believes City have dominated domestically even before Pep. Hence, the manager’s current achievements are ‘ordinary’ and not special in any way.
Ferdinand explains why he thinks Guardiola at City would only be judged by his ability to deliver a Champions League title.
“With the competitive spirit Guardiola has, the perfectionist he seems to be and the obsessive nature he has, he would not be happy if he walked away from City without winning the Champions League,” Ferdinand told The Sun.
“He was probably more successful at Bayern Munich than he has been at City but the fact he didn’t win the Champions League in Germany will always taint his time there. That is due to the level he has operated at in the past and the standards he set himself at Barcelona.”
“I think it would be the same if this was to happen again at City. Guardiola has been brought in by their owners specifically to win the Champions League, whether he likes it or not.”
“They were winning the Premier League before he arrived, so he hasn’t so far achieved anything at City that nobody else has.”
“Guardiola can say what he wants about not being judged on the Champions League because he has to protect himself, but he has been brought in to win this tournament. I’m not saying he would be unsuccessful if he doesn’t manage to win it, but he would not have done what was on the tin.”
Ferdinand does have a point but it would be criminal to say Guardiola has not been ‘special’ at Manchester City.
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