Pep Guardiola’s next target: ‘To win titles in a row’

However, only eight managers have successfully defended. Guardiola is not one among them, though he has won twice in three seasons with Barcelona. He made it sound like a regret, which he wants to erase. “The competition gives us a new challenge so at least try. Just like Madrid or the Sacchi period with Milan, they did it again in a row. I was incredibly proud at Barcelona to win two in four years [as coach, in 2009 and 2011] but we didn’t win it in a row. Let’s try by being ourselves,” he said.

At the same time, he is not thinking too far ahead. “First the group stage, then last 16, try to win. We didn’t change when we didn’t win. Nothing more than Red Star, depends on our performance and level. We’re incredible happy to defend this crown. This competition doesn’t allow you to drop. Always we were strong at home, tomorrow is the first step,” he said.

He also warned against his team relaxing, after five wins in as many games in the Premier League. “The important thing is that the players don’t feel relaxed. If the board are relaxed, good, they don’t score goals,” responding to a comment by Ferran Soriano, City’s chief executive, said last week that “people are relaxed” at the club

“If I wanted to live for the memories I wouldn’t be here. I’d be at home or on a beach. We played the Super Cup against Sevilla, three days later against Newcastle. Not an ideal situation. This is a challenge, it is what it is. Go for it,” he said.

He was happy with the “anger” his players showed after the comeback win over a resillient West Ham United. “The manager can go on TikTok and repeat motivation but it doesn’t work. Every player has to be moved and feel that,” he said. “It belongs to them, I knew at half-time I should come to the players because they were angry. I said ‘Why are you angry, you’re losing 1-0 but performing well. Be clinical upfront and you’d be 3-1 up?’ We push them, they have an incredible mentality, to never give up,” he added.

So ruthless have they been in the league that they have not made the injury-enforced absence of talisman Kevin de Bruyne felt, besides the departures of the experienced Ilkay Gundagon and Riyad Mahrez. Doubtful for this match are the injured Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish and John Stones. But it would not bother the side too much, as they frightening depth on the bench. They could line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bernardo Silva as a deep-lying playmaker, alongside the league’s best pivot, Rodri. The duo would pull the strings behind a ultra-slick and quick trio of Doku, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden, all fashioning chances for the unstoppable Erling Haaland, who has already belted seven goals in five games this season.