Manchester City head coach Josep Guardiola has shared his expectations for the Champions League final against Inter Italy on June 10 at 22:00 in Istanbul:
Josep Guardiola. Photo: gettyimages.com"During my time at City, I realised that overexcitement before big matches is not good for us. We will go to Istanbul to realise the dream, try to show a good game and win the final. We had a chance to do it two years ago, we were very close to the final last year. Now we are here again and we will give it our all.
We will approach the final the way we approach all midweek Premier League games. The players will be focused on what needs to be done and nothing else.
As a coach, I have reached the semi-finals 10 times, played in the finals three times, had two wins and this is my fourth final. The Champions League has given me more than I could have ever imagined. If my life suddenly ended now, I would have one victory as a player with a club I love so much, and two more victories as a coach of that club.
We have to accept that if we want to take a defining step towards big club status, we have to win in Europe. We have to win the Champions League, it's inevitable. But the most important thing is to play in this tournament again and again, to play in the finals. Two years ago we had a final, now we are in the final again. That's what defines a big club. Year after year, you fight in the later stages of the Champions League and win the trophy.
There is no such thing as failure in sport. Admitting failure is like saying your opponent is worthless. Doesn't it mean that the opponent played well, that they were good? Sport is about trying. Living in sport is about trying. It's about trying again and again, picking yourself up and trying again. When you win, you have to celebrate with dignity in your circle, when you lose, you have to cry a little and come back the next day. It's a sport. There is no failure here. When you try, it is not failure," said Guardiola.
