Pep Guardiola admits he will be disappointed if Manchester City are knocked out of the Champions League but says there is always next year.
The Premier League champions-in-waiting travel to Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday with a slender 2-1 lead over Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund whose most lethal weapon, Erling Haaland, failed to fire in the opening leg of their quarter-final.
Guardiola's team suffered a shock exit at the hands of Ligue 1 side Lyon in a one-off quarter-final last year and the City boss was quite philosophical when asked about the possibility of his team suffering the same fate on Wednesday night.
"We have another chance, another opportunity, life is like this. If you fight for it, you have another opportunity," Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.
"Our performances have given us another opportunity to be here and we're going to try. We lost against Lyon? Yes. We were better? Yes. We are out? Yes. So now we try to do it better and try to go through.
"What we have done so far, fighting in the four competitions and especially in the Premier League...we are already the first team to qualify for the Champions League next season. Guaranteed.
"So next season, eleven years in a row. No other club in England has done that before. Eleven years in a row this club will be there again. I'm sorry but that is fantastic. But now is the time to take another step."
From left: Emre CAN (Borussia Dortmund), Marco REUS (Borussia Dortmund), Erling HAALAND (DO), Thomas DELANEY (Borussia Dortmund), April 3rd, 2021 Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. Photo: Ralf Ibing / FiroSportphotoCity go into the game off the back of a shock 2-1 Premier League defeat against 10-man Leeds United.
Guardiola was asked if he had delivered a motivational speech to his players ahead of the second meeting with Dortmund.
"Of course you have to control your emotions but sometimes you need emotions in a good way to win this type of game," said Guardiola.
"I didn't say anything special, we are not going to do anything special. We just go there to win the game, analyse and each one try to be a leader on the pitch.
"When the guy feels comfortable during the game to take responsibility, be more involved; for the guys who are more nervous or quiet, OK, do your job, play simple, be calm, and after the rest will come. After, maybe, five minutes you will be ready to make a good performance again."
