Pep Guardiola says Champions League win will not make up for perceived Julia Roberts snub: ‘I'm a failure’
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 15/03/2023 at 11:02 GMT
Pep Guardiola said that winning the Champions League will not make up for a perceived snub by one of his idols, Julia Roberts. Guardiola revealed, following his side’s 7-0 win against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, that Roberts visited United rather than City during a trip to Manchester. Erling Haaland scored five against Leipzig as City won 8-1 on aggregate.
‘I'm a failure’ – Guardiola says Champions League win will not make up for perceived idol snub
Pep Guardiola has said after his side beat RB Leipzig 7-0 in their last-16 encounter at the Etihad Stadium that he is a Champions League "failure" and that winning the tournament would not make up for a perceived snub by one of his idols, Julia Roberts.
The win saw Erling Haaland score five goals as City collected an 8-1 win on aggregate as the club chase a first Champions League trophy.
Guardiola has won the Champions League twice as a manager – in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona. He reached the final in 2021 with City, losing to Chelsea. He said ahead of the Leipzig match that he would be judged on his Champions League record.
However, after the seven-goal showing, he said not even winning the Champions League would make up for a perceived snub by one of his idols, Julia Roberts.
Guardiola explained in a light-hearted manner after the Leipzig win that Roberts – one of his three idols, alongside Michael Johnson and Tiger Woods – visited Manchester United instead of the Etihad club when she visited the city, and winning the Champions League would not make up for the disappointment.
"I'm a failure, in the Champions League,” said Guardiola. “So don't worry.
"Listen, I'm going to explain a secret. So whatever happens this year in the Champions League... winning... even if I win this Champions League, we win this Champions League... we win three Champions League in a row, I will be a failure.
“I am going to tell you something. I have three idols in my life: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts. Okay? These are my three idols. So for obvious reasons, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts as well.
“So Julia Roberts, years ago, came to Manchester. Not in '90 when Sir Alex Ferguson wins the title and titles and titles.
“[It] came in the period, like we were better than [Manchester] United these four or five years, and she went to visit Man United. She didn't come to see us.
“So that's why this is... even [if] I win the Champions League, [it] will not be compared for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn't come to see us.
“So that's why whatever happened, even [if] I win the Champions League, [it will not] compare for the disappointment I had. So that you have to know it."
After such a statement win, City will enter Friday’s draw – live on BT Sport – full of confidence.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article