Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City must avoid the fate of previous Champions League winners who faded after one season, as the club celebrates its first European Cup triumph. The manager, who secured the trophy in his seventh season at the Etihad, acknowledged the difficulty of sustained success in the competition, noting that only Real Madrid have retained it in the last three decades.
Guardiola, whose side beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul, highlighted the need for continuity and evolution. 'There are teams that win the Champions League and after one or two seasons disappear,' he said. 'This is what you have to avoid. Knowing me, this is not going to happen.' The Spaniard has a contract until 2025 and praised the club's structure, suggesting he is unlikely to leave soon.
However, City face potential squad upheaval. Captain Ilkay Gundogan is out of contract and attracting interest from Arsenal and Barcelona, while Bernardo Silva, who has wanted to leave in previous summers, may finally depart. Kevin De Bruyne, at 32, remains a key figure, but the average age of City's starting XI in the final was 28 years and 137 days, with 33-year-old Kyle Walker and 32-year-old Riyad Mahrez on the bench.
Match-winner Rodri expressed confidence in the club's future, citing young talents like Erling Haaland. 'We can build a legacy for the future,' he said. 'We can trust in ourselves that we did it, and this is what teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and AC Milan did in the past.' Guardiola, however, dismissed comparisons with Real Madrid's 14 titles, joking: 'We are just 13 Champions Leagues behind them. Be careful, Real Madrid, because we are on our way.'
The manager also reflected on the difficulty of repeating success, even with his Barcelona team often considered the best ever. 'People say I have to win trebles every season,' he said. 'I am a good manager, but no.' City's challenge will be to maintain their level amid potential departures and the natural cycle of squad renewal.
