‘No Regrets’ Ahead of Derby Showdown With Mourinho – Guardiola

‘No Regrets’ Ahead of Derby Showdown With Mourinho – Guardiola

The Manchester derby later today may be the most significant in years given the prize at stake, but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he has “no regrets” as he takes on fierce rival Jose Mourinho for a third time this season.

Guardiola, who has won 22 trophies in his previous seven years in management, is set to finish a campaign without a trophy for the first time following City’s elimination by Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinals last Sunday.

A defeat in the derby will see City cede fourth place to neighbours Manchester United, but Guardiola says he will carry on with the project irrespective of the outcome this campaign.

“I think we’ll be able to qualify for the Champions League. But if we are not able to, we are going to adapt and play the Europa League,” he told reporters at the City training centre in Manchester, according to Guardian.

“I am optimistic. I am so proud of my players and what we are doing and even how we played the last game at Wembley.

“I don’t have regrets. I don’t have complaints. We’re going to see. At the end of the season – in my last press conference – I will explain my feelings if we are in or out (of the Champions League).

“If you analyse the trophies, how many were we able to win this year? Zero. It’s easy to analyse.

“It’s simple like that. If you analyse by how many titles whether it was good or not good, then the season was not good.”

The Catalan coach admitted that he expected a bit more from the side, and bemoaned much of their self-inflicted harm.

“It was not good enough in terms of what I’d expect,” he said.

“I tried to introduce the players to the way we play and in many cases we did it. With some, we were not able to. We were not consistent.

“The most important thing is to analyse the reason why we weren’t able to compete in the Premier League and make decisions.”