“Life or death” – Pep Guardiola’s pride in Manchester City’s cup success over the years | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has delivered a passionate defence of his approach to cup competitions, insisting every game Manchester City play carries the same weight regardless of the opponent or the occasion.

Speaking in a press conference after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Brentford, Guardiola gave a peak through the curtain into a culture he has spent a decade building at the Etihad Stadium, one in which no competition is treated as secondary and no opponent is taken lightly.

The comments arrive in the context of a week in which City have kept alive their pursuit of a domestic treble – ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley and three remaining Premier League fixtures, starting with Wednesday’s home fixture against Crystal Palace.

Guardiola: We have to do our best every game

As City pursue what would be a second domestic treble for the Blues under Guardiola, the Catalan opened up culture of total commitment he has instilled at the club since his arrival in 2016.

“It’s like life or death, it’s nice,” the Manchester City manager said as goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush did the job against Brentford at the weekend.

“And I think I tried with my staff since 10 years ago to make this club, from the first game in pre-season: we have to try to win! It’s not choosing competitions, games, work-ethic.

“I think all of us, the chairman, CEO, sporting director, myself, players, inoculate in our bodies that we have to do our best every game! To respect our people, the job, all of us who are incredibly well paid, we have to do it.

“If you are out, you are out. I’m a person who accepts more, when it’s fair, defeats because it’s part of the job, but we have to do our job.

“And also as a manager, when you arrive in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup against League One teams, I’ll work harder! The players know I am. ‘Be careful guys! If you’re not who we are, we’ll be in trouble!’.

“It’s easy against (Real) Madrid in the (UEFA) Champions League or Arsenal at home for the title, you know the team and the fans will be there.

“But that is the moment that defines clubs as I’ve said many times: the consistency, during 10 years, in all competitions has been really, truly extraordinary. Extraordinary!”

The distinction Guardiola draws between glamour fixtures and cup ties against lower-league opposition is a revealing one. His point is that the latter are in many ways the greater challenge – not tactically, but mentally – and that the clubs who navigate those moments with the same intensity as the big occasions are the ones who sustain success over time.

What does City’s consistency tell us about Pep’s legacy?

Guardiola’s reference to 10 years of consistency across all competitions goes to the heart of what separates Manchester City from their rivals during his tenure.

Six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, a historic treble, multiple FA Cups and Carabao Cups – all achieved without the selective approach to competitions that has defined other clubs’ strategies.

With the FA Cup final against Chelsea and the title race going potentially to the final weekend of the Premier League campaign, City now have the opportunity to add another chapter to that legacy.

Guardiola’s message to his squad is the same one he has delivered since his first pre-season in Manchester – every game, every competition, every minute. That has not changed. And on the evidence of this season, neither has the response from his players.