Manchester City must win Champions League or I will be judged a failure, admits Pep Guardiola

City will play Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition

Pep Guardiola accepts that he will likely have to win the Champions League in order for his time at Manchester City to be judged as an unqualified success.

City will play Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition after the draw for the last eight was made in Nyon on Friday.

Guardiola has already lifted two European Cups with Barcelona and was brought to Manchester with the hope that he could lead City to their first.

But he arrived in 2016 after three seasons in Germany, where his Bayern Munich side dominated domestically but failed to win the Champions League.

That led some to characterise his time at Bayern as a failure and Guardiola expects the same treatment if he does not win his third European Cup at City.

“I was judged in Munich in that way so I will be judged here as well,” he said on Friday, in the aftermath of the quarter-final draw.

“My period in Munich was not good for most people because we didn't get one final.

“We got semi-finals but we didn't get a final and we were judged. So I'm a lucky guy. My standards are high. I have to reach it.”

Guardiola’s sarcastic tone suggested that he does not have much time for those who judge his Bayern spell to be a failure.

Instead, he values the opinions of those who his superiors, his players, others whom works closely with and the supporters.

“What's important is that the players, the club, the fans and the people give credit if we are consistent and humble and in every single game doing what we have to do,” he said.

“But I have to accept it. We won a lot in the past and that's why people believe that is normal, but that is not normal.”

Guardiola added: “My standards are not thinking: 'We are Manchester City, we have to win everything. We have to win the final and if not it will be a disaster.'

“It will be a disaster when you don't do what you have to do: put absolutely everything to try it.

“When you are in the position that we are right now, I've not many complaints. I'm pretty sure our fans know it.

“When I spoke with my chairman, CEO, sporting director, the people here working know and they give credit for what we have done in the last two seasons.

“At the end, that is the most important thing. After that, everyone can judge if it's a disaster.

“If we do not win the Champions League, our work for three seasons, every three days, is a failure or a disaster. I completely do not agree but what can I say? Accept it and move on.”

City remain on course to win an unprecedented quadruple this season and can progress to the FA Cup semi-finals today if they beat second-tier Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

Guardiola will without Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), Fernandinho (groin), Benjamin Mendy (knee) and club captain Vincent Kompany, who is struggling for fitness.

John Stones was named on the substitutes’ bench for Tuesday’s 7-0 win over Schalke 04 but the centre-half is still struggling with a groin injury and will not feature at Swansea.

Stones was named in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and the Czech Republic earlier this week.

But Guardiola does not want the 24-year-old to meet up with his international team-mates, as he does not believe he is fit enough to take part.

“He’s not ready,” the City manager said on Stones. “Hopefully he will not go. He is not ready to play. He is injured.”

When asked if he had discussed Stones’ availability with Southgate, Guardiola said: “Maybe I will call, and maybe I will speak but I think the doctors are in touch.

“Normally, in this kind of situation, I don’t speak with the managers. The doctors when there are problems, they are in touch.”