Pep Guardiola considers trying to end Manchester United’s dominance of English football to be his “biggest challenge” as manager of Manchester City.
While the Red Devils have not lifted the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, they have continued to collect major silverware on a regular basis.
City have spent big in an effort to bridge the gap on their fiercest rivals, with the ‘noisy neighbours’ seeking to take control in Manchester and of domestic competition in England.
Guardiola helped them to establish dominance in record-breaking style last season, with a league and Carabao Cup double, and admits he is determined to keep the trophies rolling in.
He told All or Nothing: Manchester City, a new Amazon documentary focused on goings on at the Etihad Stadium: “We have neighbours who, for 15 or 20 years, have always won. I think my biggest challenge as a manager is to change that.”
Guardiola got City back on top in 2017-18 having ended his debut campaign in England empty-handed.
Recovering from that rare setback has helped to enhance the Catalan’s reputation as one of the finest coaches in the business.
The 47-year-old former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss continues to win plenty of plaudits, but he claims there are chinks in his armour which he tries his best to cover up.
Guardiola added: “I am going to tell you something that is absolutely true: I don’t have all the answers. Often, when I don’t know something, I act in front of the players as if I do.
“I do it so they believe I have the right answers and it gives them confidence to play.”
That approach has served Guardiola well to this point, with a winning formula having been found by a man who made the transition from player to manager look remarkably easy.
He added while further lifting the lid on his approach: “I like to have a noisy dressing room before a match. I feel that animates the players more.
“What I miss from my time as a player is the locker room. It’s the nicest place to be, apart form the pitch, when there are jokes, everyone is all together, they criticise the manager and share the good and bad moments.”
City, who eased to a 2-0 victory over Arsenal when opening the defence of their Premier League crown, are set to welcome Huddersfield to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.