Pep Guardiola Aims Sly Dig at Old Foe José Mourinho After Champions League Collapse

• Pep Guardiola has subtly jabbed José Mourinho for failing to qualify for the Champions League finals despite spending monies in the transfer market
• He argues that he is not the only manager to have spent a lump sum of monies in the transfer market and not seal a Champions League final berth
• Guardiola's Manchester City suffered a painful defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal second leg last Wednesday

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has aimed a subtle jab at his 'old enemy' José Mourinho on the back of his side's painful Champions League exit.

Guardiola has come under intense backlash following his side's inability to reach the finals of the Champions League.

His detractors reckon that per the monies invested in his squad he should have been able to annex the coveted European trophy, which the owners of Man City have craved since the takeover in 2008.

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But deflecting the attention on his team, Guardiola suggested he is not the only coach to have splashed the cash on the transfer market and not reached the finals of the Champions League.

Ahead of Man City's Premier League game against Newcastle United on Sunday, Guardiola insisted he still has the hunger to win trophies.

"I'm always hungry, I think every day how lucky and happy I am." Pep said as quoted by Sky Sports Italia.

"I know that the people here are obsessed with the Champions League. The day we win it I'm sure they will say it's it was because we spent so much money, not for the work behind it."

Guardiola, who had a long-standing rivalry with Mourinho during their time in Spain, argued his archrival spent money but is rather playing in the finals of the Europa Conference League.

"For me, it is not a question of money and the fans do not understand it. Roma have also spent a lot of money but they are not in the Champions League."

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Pep's Man City splashed £100 million on Jack Grealish while Mourinho spent £83.49 million on four players last summer.

Guardiola explains his job at Man City does not depend on winning the Champions League

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Pep Guardiola has finally cleared the air on his job at Manchester City claiming that those in charge of the Citizens did not give him the mandate of winning the Champions League.

This statement is coming following Manchester City's defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal as Pep Guardiola and his wards crashed out again.

Last season, they got to the final of the Champions League before losing the encounter to Premier League rivals Chelsea.