As Pep Guardiola looks to lead Manchester City to their-first ever UEFA Champions League title, the Spaniard has revealed the one team that has continually proved difficult to overcome in the competition.
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For all the domestic league success Guardiola has enjoyed in both Germany and England, the 51-year-old has failed to hold aloft the Champions League trophy in 11 years now.
Having been a European champion twice before during his tenure at Barcelona, the criticism that has been levelled at the Catalonia native is that he has been unable to do it without Lionel Messi.
Now in his seventh season at the Etihad Stadium, the former midfielder will be looking to get the Citizens their first-ever UCL trophy, but has admitted it will be difficult to do so as long as a certain team is still in the competition.
When asked, following the Citizens' 0-0 draw with Copenhagen on Wednesday, why it is so difficult to win Europe's premier club competition, Guardiola told Viaplay: "Because [Real] Madrid is always there."
Los Blancos have proved a thorn in Guardiola's side over the past few years. The 14-time Champions League winners beat him during his first season at Bayern Munich, in 2013/14, at the semi-final stage on their way to La Decima, and most recently thwarted City in dramatic fashion at the same stage last season.
Despite these disappointments, the La Masia alumni insisted that winning the competition is not an obsession.
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"I would like to win it, it's not an obsession, it's a dream, a target we can do," Guardiola added.
"I'm completely aware how good the opponents are and how difficult this competition is.
"I said many times, maybe people don't believe me or think I'm making an excuse, I didn't come here [to City] to win the Champions League."
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