Pep Guardiola does not think Bayern Munich are ready to win the Champions League, stating that his team needs to learn to concentrate for a full match before it can think about European glory.
“I don’t think we are ready to win the Champions League yet,” Guardiola said at a news conference during Bayern’s winter training camp in Qatar.
“We still need to make steps forward. We have to learn how to stay focused for the full 90 minutes.”
The Spanish coach, who announced last week that he will be leaving the Bundesliga champions for England and the Premier League at the end of the season, is missing European club football’s top prize from his trophy cabinet in Munich. However Guardiola doesn’t want to have the trophies he has won remembered above all other things.
“I would rather be remembered for the football my teams play than for the trophies I won,” the 44-year old explained. “In the end, titles are nothing but numbers and numbers are boring.
“When we win 4-0 or 5-0 and the fans go home happy, that’s the greatest gift for me.”
Better to win at home
Guardiola has won the Bundesliga title in each season that he has coached Bayern Munich and the German league is what he craves the most with the second club team he has been in charge of.
“The Bundesliga is the most special title for me. You can play terrible in the Champions League, but then do well for six games and win the title.”
Questions were also once again asked of the Spaniards future, with his recent announcement sparking rumours linking him with the Premier League’s elite of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
“I will reveal my new club once I have actually signed a contract,” Guardiola explained. “I have not talked with the players about my imminent move to England because we are only talking about football. But they all already know anyway.”
Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga action on Friday, 22 January, against Hamburg.
