Pep Guardiola has a feeling this is Man City’s Champions League year

Pep Guardiola says English teams are always at a disadvantage in Europe, but insists Manchester City can end their Champions League hoodoo.

‘Every season this league has a disadvantage with the rest,’ Guardiola said. ‘Not just in this Covid year. 

‘Even when the situation is normal there are no winter breaks, a lot of games, a lot of competitions, intensity, the weather conditions, the pitches — many, many things.’

Pep Guardiola feels this year could finally be the one for Man City in the Champions League

City and Guardiola went soul-searching after the galling 3-1 quarter-final defeat by Lyon in August.

And Guardiola broke with his normal convention by predicting that City would go far this time. ‘I have a feeling we will do really well this season,’ he said.

‘I don’t know why but I’ve felt it from the beginning, since we lost to Lyon. We know what we have to do. The season is so young and I’m very optimistic.’

Guardiola believes that English sides are at a disadvantage from the outset in Europe