Pep Guardiola exclusive: Manchester City learned from 'pain' to win UEFA Champions League last season

In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Pep Guardiola has revealed how Manchester City became a team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League.

The club will continue their European title defence in Tuesday's last-16 encounter against Copenhagen, live on TNT Sports, after winning the tournament for the first time last season.

City had come close to triumph in previous years, reaching the 2020-21 final and 2021-22 semi-finals.

Guardiola, who also managed Barcelona to two UEFA Champions League titles, explained how the heartbreak from the past had helped City become accustomed to the demands of the tournament.

"There are unbelievable teams and unbelievable players, and everyone wishes it and wants it [Champions League title]," Guardiola said. "It's so difficult, especially for a team which has never won it before and didn’t have experience.

"But I see the players in the team now compared to when I arrived eight years ago, going on bigger stages like Barcelona, Madrid or whatever. I think we didn't believe it, that we could compete."

Guardiola added: "Now I have the feeling that we can [still] lose, but we can be there, not being scared. Respect the opponents, of course. But face them, 'OK, let's try it'. So, that is the big gap.

"That gap reduces when you play year by year in this competition – the experience and the defeats and the pain you have in your body.

"Many things help us to grow up and be in the position that we did in the previous seasons. In three years, two finals and one semi-final. So that means that we learn from the past."

City are still on track to replicate last season’s historic Treble, having won the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Guardiola insisted there was only a "ridiculous percent" chance that his team could repeat the feat, but insisted they would "fight" to do so.

He also highlighted the risks of exiting the Champions League in the last 16, which takes place two months after the conclusion of the group stage.

"The last Champions League game was a long time ago in the group stage, so many things have happened since November, December, until now," Guardiola said.

"It’s always been tricky. At Barcelona, I suffered a lot in my first two seasons, the first game [back]. At Bayern Munich as well. We have to be careful tonight with our mental approach and read what you have to do, and go step by step to try to reach this ridiculous percent."

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Copenhagen v Manchester City will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 19:00 UK time on Tuesday, February 13.

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