Guardiola Heads Home Seeking Break From Away Day Blues

BARCELONA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Oct, 2016 ) : For one of the most decorated coaches of all-time, boasting a 75 percent career win percentage and 21 trophies, Pep Guardiola's record of two wins from his last 11 away Champions League matches is an uncharacteristic stain.

Manchester City's long court of the Catalan was not just to dominate at home, but secure City's place amongst the European elite by winning the Champions League. Despite reaching the last four for the first time in their history last season, Guardiola insists they are far from the finished article.

"If you ask me if we are ready to compete in Europe, then we are not ready," he said last month despite a stunning 10-game winning run to start his tenure. That streak, though, was snapped on their first trip in the Champions League proper in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Celtic three weeks ago.

Guardiola summarised the madcap 'Battle of Britain' in a famously raucous Glasgow atmosphere as a "good test" of where City are away from home in Europe. Yet, as he returns to the club that made him as a player and a coach in Barcelona on Wednesday, Guardiola and City will get a far better look into how far they have to go to be Champions League contenders.

"The last decade, the last 15 years they dominate football the way they play," said Guardiola after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Everton. "Barcelona is special (in) the way they play because it is a machine." Much of that dominance and style of play is thanks to Guardiola.