Pep Guardiola has downplayed Manchester City’s chances of winning the Champions League this season, saying his side are “apparently not contenders” ahead of Thursday’s group-stage opener against Napoli.
City, who lifted the European trophy for the first time in 2023, have become consistent performers in the competition but endured a disappointing early exit last season, losing to record 15-time winners Real Madrid in a knockout play-off.
Despite their pedigree, bookmakers currently rank Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain as stronger favourites to lift the trophy this year.
When asked at his pre-match press conference whether City are contenders, Guardiola replied:
“Apparently, we are not. We must just enjoy the moment, the journey. We are happy to be here. In the past, we have been. We just won once, so that is a lot of difficulty. We’re just focusing on tomorrow, starting this competition well.”
Manchester City are eager to bounce back after ending last season without a trophy for the first time in eight years. Their Premier League campaign began with two defeats in their first three matches, but Guardiola’s men regained momentum with a 3-0 win over rivals Manchester United last weekend.
The City boss has also overseen significant changes to the squad in recent transfer windows, with long-serving stars Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Ederson among those to leave.
With a refreshed team and a tough European challenge ahead, Guardiola insists City will take it one game at a time, beginning with Napoli.
