It's a somewhat strange season for Man City and Pep Guardiola. A season that started so brightly with the arrival of Erling Haaland has stuttered. They trail Arsenal by two points in the Premier League (with the Gunners having a game in hand).
Things aren't straightforward in the Champions League either. Manchester City go into the second leg of their Champions League last sixteen tie in two weeks with RB Leipzig all square with a goal a piece. City travelled to Germany to take on Leipzig last week in a game that saw just two goals, a first-half Mahrez goal to put City ahead, followed by a controversial equaliser by Gvardiol. With the game finishing out that way, it'll all be on the line when City welcome Leipzig to the Etihad in two weeks.
While Liverpool didn't have as much fortune in their first leg miserably falling 5-2 to Real Madrid, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been reminiscing about their victory in Istanbul all those years ago. On that fateful night, Liverpool went 3 goals down to favourites Milan with the game all but over. However, an inspired second-half performance saw Liverpool complete one of the all-time great comebacks. Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Vladimir Smicer all scored within six minutes of each other, sending the game to penalties with Liverpool eventually lifting their fifth Champions League. While that night will forever live long in the memories of Liverpool fans, it seems to be also imprinted in the mind of Man City boss Pep Guardiola too.
Liverpool lift the trophy after their 2005 Champions League victory in Istanbul.
Despite the ferocity of their rivalry over the last number of years, Pep has revealed that its that famous Liverpool comeback he reminds his team of when things are in a rut.
I always give an important example to my players about this kind of thing from the Champions League from years ago, when Milan played Liverpool and Liverpool made a big comeback under Rafa Benitez
Milan were 3-0 at half-time and had the most experienced line-up I’ve ever seen with Maldini, Cafu, Gattuso, [manager] Carlo Ancelotti and they lost.
From my little experience when you think that everything is under control and I know exactly what is going to happen, football can come and punch you in the face and you get a new reality.
This is the truth
While nobody can deny Guardiola's unbelievable success as a manager that illustrious European title still evades him, his best chance being in 2021 when City fell 1-0 to Chelsea. Undoubtedly, he'll be hoping complacency doesn't spoil his European dreams like it did Milan's 18 years ago.
SEE ALSO: Champions League Quiz: Name The 2009 Liverpool Team That Demolished Real Madrid
