Pep Guardiola and Man City handed perfect chance to banish nightmare Champions League memory

There was a Spanish shrug of the shoulders. An almost nonchalant response to a key question. Pep Guardiola was philosophical, and somewhat evasive: “I did what is best for the team.”

The Man City manager was speaking on the pitch after seeing his side lose 1-0 to Chelsea in the Champions League final of 2021. The question posed was on his decision not to play a holding midfielder in arguably his biggest game in the dug-out since his Barca days. It was perhaps the ultimate game of ‘Pep Roulette.’ The wheel might have landed on blue but on this occasion, it was the darker shade of Chelsea.

Two years on, Guardiola and his Erling Haaland-boosted squad will be hoping to go one better in Europe. Chelsea are potential semi-final opponents this time around but first City must navigate a way past one of Guardiola’s former employers in Bayern Munich.

Standing in their way is a familiar foe, a name synonymous with that difficult night in Portugal when City were so close and yet so far from the trophy that has eluded them since Pep strolled through the Etihad entrance in 2016: Thomas Tuchel.

The German guided Chelsea to European glory at City’s expense. He also engineered an FA Cup semi-final success and a Premier League win over Guardiola’s side shortly before that Champions League title. City did the top flight double the following campaign and have continued to dine at Europe’s top table even if they’ve yet to take their seat at the head of it.

Standing in their way is a familiar foe, a name synonymous with that difficult night in Portugal when City were so close and yet so far from the trophy that has eluded them since Pep strolled through the Etihad entrance in 2016: Thomas Tuchel.

The German guided Chelsea to European glory at City’s expense. He also engineered an FA Cup semi-final success and a Premier League win over Guardiola’s side shortly before that Champions League title. City did the top flight double the following campaign and have continued to dine at Europe’s top table even if they’ve yet to take their seat at the head of it.

For Guardiola it provides a shot at redemption. The City chief can show he’s learned from his last European meeting with Tuchel, he has a side capable of marrying balance with brilliance and on paper has the better players in the better form. He’s often faced criticism for over-thinking on big European nights, of changing when consistency is required. It’s a minor blemish on an incredible managerial record but, until he lands the big one with City it will remain.

Few have altered football as much as Pep, and now it’s down to Pep to not alter too much as he seeks City utopia.