Pep Guardiola believes the biggest trophy during his time at Manchester City is not the collection of titles his side have lifted, but the extraordinary consistency that has taken them to Wembley Stadium 24 times during his reign.
The Spaniard has overseen one of the most successful periods in English football history since arriving at City in 2016, guiding the club to multiple Premier League crowns, domestic cup triumphs and Champions League glory.
Yet Guardiola insists the repeated appearances at Wembley for major domestic fixtures represent a greater reflection of the standards his players have maintained year after year.
City have become regular visitors to the national stadium under Guardiola, frequently reaching the latter stages of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Their dominance in domestic competitions has turned semi-finals and finals into familiar occasions for supporters, while the club’s ability to avoid unexpected slip-ups against lower-league opposition has further highlighted their consistency.
Speaking about his side’s record, Guardiola suggested the achievement should be viewed as a title in itself because of the sustained level required to repeatedly reach decisive matches.
“I think the biggest title, now I’m going to say something, I think the biggest title is to come here (Wembley) 24 times, that is the biggest title,” he said.
The City manager explained that although silverware often defines success in football, regularly competing deep into cup tournaments demonstrates a reliability and focus that can easily be underestimated.
According to Guardiola, winning trophies is important, but repeatedly placing the team in positions to compete for honours every season is equally significant.
“You can win Premier Leagues, Champions League, but do you play 24 times here?” he added.
The club have broken numerous records during his tenure, including historic points totals in the Premier League and a continental treble-winning campaign.
Despite those accomplishments, Guardiola pointed to his first season in England as evidence of how difficult sustained success can be.
City failed to secure a trophy during the 2016-17 campaign, the only season under Guardiola in which the club finished without major silverware. The following years, however, marked the beginning of an era of domestic dominance.
“The first season when I arrived, I didn’t come, because we didn’t win nothing in the previous season, and after that in nine years come 24 times, it’s because we were stubborn,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola praises City mentality
Guardiola also highlighted the mental strength required to navigate domestic cup competitions, where top-flight clubs often face difficult away ties against lower-division opponents.
He acknowledged that matches against teams from League One and League Two can be dangerous, particularly given the unpredictability and pressure associated with knockout football.
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“So many times, FA Cup or Carabao Cup, you go to League One or League Two (teams), you can be slippery, you can make a bad afternoon, a bad night,” he said.
“We never had not even one day and that is the biggest, I think, compliment that we can get as a club.”
Under Guardiola, City have developed a reputation for treating every competition seriously, often fielding strong line-ups even in the early rounds of domestic cups.
That approach has helped the club build an impressive record in knockout football and cemented their status as one of England’s most consistent teams.
