sport news Pep Guardiola satisfies his obsession with silverware once again

It is coming up for two years since Pep Guardiola's managerial nadir, a night Manchester City were humiliated in Monaco. You tend to learn a great deal about personalities in those moments and, for all the talk about styles of play, he shone a light on his true focus in the immediate aftermath.

He referenced his trophy haul from Barca and Bayern with a touch of ego. Guardiola is a genius, a tactician above all others, but he is also the ultimate 'show us your medals' manager.

'I think exceptional other managers in the world sometimes don't win titles in a season,' he said in the face of stinging criticism after Champions League elimination. 'That is the normal situation all around the world. The exception is my career. I'm sorry, but that is exceptional.'

Manchester City won the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday night

Manchester City won the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday night

Pep Guardiola has an obsession with trophies, and is unhappy when he goes without them

Pep Guardiola has an obsession with trophies, and is unhappy when he goes without them

Trophies, trophies, trophies. Was he wrong then? Probably not. Now - a Premier League title, two Carabao Cups and a Community Shield later - he certainly isn't. Guardiola does not want to hear the Q word yet but he must have eyes for it.

Sunday was the 26th time he has lifted silverware in 11 years. Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain lured a winning machine when they convinced Guardiola to succeed Manuel Pellegrini. No trophy is too small for the winning obsessive.

The Catalan actually attempted to play this victory down afterwards. 'I have to say it has a lot (of significance), for the Carabao people,' he laughed.. Everybody in that room knew kidology was at play.

He was all a bit cool but certainly was not when the outcome of this final remained uncertain. Guardiola after the event - after the tickertape, hugs and waves - was not the man who could not bear to watch the penalty shootout, looking down at his feet as Raheem Sterling thundered another chapter into his own ever-expanding book.

Forget what

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