Old foe in the way of Euro glory again

The City manager was speaking on the pitch after seeing his side lose 1-0 to Chelsea in the Champions League final of 2021.

- ALEX JAMES

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 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.