Guardiola Agrees Champions League Trophy Decisive in New City Contract

• Pep Guardiola extended his Manchester City contract until 2025 during the World Cup break
• The Spanish manager has won every trophy in England except the UEFA Champions League
• The former Barcelona boss says his desire for the UCL title influenced his contract extension

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke to the media for the first time since the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar days ago, as club football returns to England.

Guardiola, who has been at City since 2016, spent the first part of the World Cup break in contract extension talks with the club. He will now stay with Man City for two more years - until 2025.

Pep has dominated English football since his arrival, winning four league titles in six seasons as well as five major cups. However, one trophy has eluded him and the club, despite coming so close on a few occasions.

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The UEFA Champions League is yet to be won by the Manchester-based club, having come close in 2021 but losing in the final to English rivals Chelsea. A final-minute loss in the semi-final last season to Real Madrid denied them another opportunity.

Guardiola confesses the 'hidden' truth

The 51-year-old has won two Champions League trophies in his time at Barcelona and was faced with the question of why he has not yet won it at City, but replied he wasn't hired by the English club to win the UCL crown, as reported by Goal.

He has now revealed his ambition to win the trophy was decisive in him signing a new contract.

Guardiola made this known while speaking to the media, ahead of the Carabao Cup game against Liverpool tomorrow (December 22), as revealed by Football Daily:

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“I admit that it is the trophy that we want, and my period here won’t be complete if we don’t win it, but it’s not the only reason why I extended my contract. Does it mean in the last 11 months we would not play the Champions League?"

The Spanish manager vowed to do everything possible with Man City to win the Champions League, as it is the trophy yet to adorn the club's silverware cabinet.

De Bruyne aligns with Guardiola

Sports Brief earlier reported that Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has moved on from the World Cup and is now focused on winning more trophies with his club.

The Belgian had a disappointing tournament and came under fire for saying his team were too old to win the Mundial - a comment which did not go down well with his teammates.

However, Manchester City will have a player returning to the club with a World Cup winners medal, in the form of young Argentina striker Julian Alvarez.