Guardiola Admits City Are Chasing Europe’s Elite After Honest Champions League Assessment

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a rare and candid admission about his team’s standing in Europe, conceding that at least six clubs are currently ahead of the Premier League champions in the UEFA Champions League pecking order.

Speaking openly about City’s current level, Guardiola listed Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid as teams performing better than his side in the competition.

“In the level of performances we’re at right now, we can’t win the Champions League against Bayern, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona, Madrid… all the big clubs,” Guardiola said.
“I know what is required to reach the final of the Champions League. I’ve won it as a player and as a manager.”

Despite City’s struggles for consistency by their lofty standards, they remain competitive. Guardiola’s side have recorded four wins, one draw and one defeat in the Champions League so far, sitting fourth on the table with 13 points. They are level with PSG, two points behind Bayern Munich, and five adrift of Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Opinion: A Warning, Not a Surrender

Guardiola’s comments may sound pessimistic on the surface, but they feel more like a calculated warning than a white flag. The City boss has built a reputation on demanding perfection, and publicly acknowledging shortcomings could be his way of refocusing his squad ahead of the business end of the season.

Interestingly, the inclusion of Arsenal and Liverpool among Europe’s elite highlights how competitive English football has become. Arsenal’s evolution into a genuine continental force, in particular, underlines why Guardiola sees them as a serious benchmark.

That said, writing off Manchester City in Europe would be premature. This is a team packed with serial winners and guided by a manager who thrives under pressure. If history has taught football fans anything, it’s that Guardiola’s honesty often precedes tactical reinvention.

City may not look like favourites right now—but in the Champions League, form can change in a moment. And few managers are better equipped than Pep Guardiola to turn self-doubt into silverware.