DORTMUND, Germany, April 14 (Reuters) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is wishing for even more success after his side reached their second Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The Spaniard, who has not won the trophy since his time at Barcelona ten years ago, has led City to a quarter-final defeat in the last three seasons and had said another unsuccessful attempt to reach the last four left him a ‘loser’ would do. .
Guardiola was also unable to win the highest European club title in his three years at Bayern Munich from 2013 to 2016.
“It feels incredible. This is the second time we’ve reached the semi-finals, so there’s not much history for our club here,” he said after reaching the quarter-finals for the eighth time in his coaching career.
“It’s so important for the club, we can’t deny it,” he said. “Psychologically, of course, it was necessary for all of us to overcome this moment (the quarter-final phase).”
“Now we want more. We know how tough (semi-final opponents) Paris St. Germain are. They eliminated Bayern Munich. We’ll see what happens. But a big moment for the club and the players.”
Guardiola’s side came from behind with goals from Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden in the second half to clinch a 4-2 aggregate win over Dortmund.
It was Germany who opened the scoring through Jude Bellingham but City, who can win four trophies this season, kept their composure and turned the game around.
“We were brilliant except for the first 15 minutes where they were good. We were good in the last 30 minutes and in the second half,” said Guardiola. “The way we played 30 minutes in the first half and especially in the second half. Personality, we passed the ball and we did it.”
City also managed to rule out Dortmund top striker Erling Haaland in both games.
“We’re incredibly happy to be in the semi-finals, against the top four teams in Europe and against big, strong teams,” said Guardiola. “One game at a time, never talk about the four titles.”
Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond
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