Alan Shearer claims Pep Guardiola won’t feel ‘complete’ if he fails to win the Champions League with Man City… but Joleon Lescott insists Spaniard’s legacy won’t be tainted if he doesn’t conquer Europe while at the Etihad
- Shearer insists Guardiola won’t feel ‘complete’ if he falls short in Europe at City
- The Spaniard has failed to win the Champions League in time at the Etihad
- While it is a criticism often levelled at Guardiola, Lescott says his legacy is safe
- Pep is now bidding to reach the competition’s final for a second year in a row
Alan Shearer insists Pep Guardiola will feel like he’s not done what he’s promised if he fails to win the Champions League at Man City – but Joleon Lescott believes the Spaniard has set the standard and has nothing more to prove at the Etihad.
Guardiola is looking to reach the Champions League final for a second successive season, with City falling short in last summer’s showpiece against Chelsea.
The Champions League trophy is the one major title that has eluded Guardiola while at City, given he’s won every domestic title during his six-year stint there.
Alan Shearer (right) insists Pep Guardiola (left) won’t feel ‘complete’ if he fails to win the Champions League while at Manchester City
His failure to conquer Europe while at the Premier League club has been used as a stick to beat him with, given the backing he has received since arriving in 2016.
And Newcastle legend Shearer insists Guardiola himself will feel incomplete if doesn’t lift the Champions League trophy once again.
Shearer, who was talking to BBC Radio 5 Live before City’s semi-final first leg with Real Madrid, said: ‘I don’t think Pep Guardiola will feel complete until he has won this competition with Manchester City.
‘If they don’t, I think a tiny part of him will feel like he’s missed out on something and not quite done what he had promised. This is the one he wants.’
City and Guardiola fell short in last summer’s Champions League final against Chelsea
The Champions League is only major title that has eluded Guardiola while at City
However, City great Lescott argued on Sky Sports that Guardiola’s legacy at the club wouldn’t be tainted if he didn’t win the European title at the club, given what he’s achieved in football generally.
When asked if Guardiola needs to win the Champions League to cement his legacy at City, Lescott argued: ‘Definitely not here. Maybe from the outside looking in, there will be people saying yes, he needs to win it.
‘What he’s done for the game, both good and bad, in terms of giving people false hope and playing the right way, he’s set a new standard.’
Rio Ferdinand claims Guardiola will have a ‘burning desire’ to win it, but went on to hail the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.
When presented with the same question as Lescott, Ferdinand said: ‘In some quarters, it would be tainted. But I just think it’s magnificent.
While it is a criticism often levelled at Guardiola, Joleon Lescott says his legacy at City is safe
‘But the overall package of what he’s done stacks up against anyone. I think him as a person, he may not admit it, but deep down, there will be a burning desire to win it again.’
City got off to a flying start in their Champions League semi-final first leg with Real Madrid on Tuesday after Kevin de Bruyne broke the deadlock inside two minutes with a brilliant header before Gabriel Jesus doubled the lead eight minutes later.
However Karim Benzema reduced the deficit to just one goal with a superb finish with the City taking a 2-1 lead into the half-time interval.
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