Guardiola will manage his 100th Champions League match for Man City against Leverkusen, becoming the third coach to reach this milestone with an English club, following Alex Ferguson (Man Utd, 190 matches) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal, 177 matches).

Under his leadership, Man City has become a European powerhouse. In 99 matches with the Catalan coach, they have achieved 62 wins, 19 draws, and 18 losses, culminating in their first Champions League title in Istanbul in 2023.

Coach Pep Guardiola celebrates the Champions League title after the final at Ataturk Olympic, Istanbul, Turkey on 11/6/2023. Photo: *Reuters*

During a pre-match press conference at the Etihad, Guardiola reflected on the upcoming milestone. He remarked, "I realize I am getting old! There is a milestone every week. We are here every season, and hopefully, it will be the same next season." The Spanish coach noted the Champions League offers significant experiences for players, coaches, and the club, impacting both reputation and finances. He added, "Sport is not always a bed of roses. Both good and bad moments define the team."

Man City's dominance in this season's Champions League is evident. According to Beinsports, they have not trailed at any point and have led for 62% of playing time. In over 146 minutes of balanced play, Guardiola's team took 41 shots and faced only two. The team also leads the competition in successful passes (2,511), with 91,9% accuracy. They excel in sequences of 10 or more passes and average passes per sequence. Notably, they are the only team not to have conceded any dangerous counter-attacks.

Man City is currently fourth with 10 points, a position that guarantees direct qualification for the round of 1/8. Guardiola aims to maintain this form to secure a spot in the top 8, thereby avoiding two play-off matches as they did last season, when Real Madrid eliminated them. The 54-year-old coach emphasized the group stage's importance: "We have had four good matches. Now there are four final matches, two at home and two away. If we win this match and get one more point, we will advance to the next round among the top 24 teams. Tomorrow's match is very important. We are focused on what needs to be done."

Guardiola also apologized for his overreaction after the 1-2 loss at Newcastle last weekend, when he argued with referee Samuel Barrott, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, and a cameraman. He expressed, "I felt ashamed watching it back. I apologized to the cameraman just a second later. After 1,000 matches, I am not perfect. I make mistakes, but I always defend my team and my club."

*Hong Duy compiled*