Premier League difficult to win than Champions League — Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola maintains that winning the Premier League is tougher than achieving Champions League success.

Guardiola’s Manchester City side are hoping to secure their fourth domestic title in five seasons on Sunday.

A win for City against Aston Villa in their final league game on Sunday will secure Pep Guardiola’s men fourth domestic title in five seasons.

Title rivals Liverpool could end the campaign on a high even if they lose the league title, as they will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final, something which has eluded Guardiola during his City tenure.

But Guardiola believes the Premier League is the greater prize.

“I would say it’s more difficult. There’s a lot of weeks and games, struggles with injuries, good and bad moments with different situations, tough opponents,” the Spaniard was quoted on Irish Times.

“It’s satisfying because it’s every day. When you fight for the Premier League and have success right at the end it gives you a sense that you enjoy a lot. We are happier in our lives when you win.

“When you win and win it [makes for] good training sessions, a good environment and mood. It’s not like the FA Cup or a single game, it’s a routine.

“I’m not saying the Champions League is not important. We’re mad, crazy to win it. We want it, we love it.

“We’d love to be in Paris [for the final] next week but to win 38 games, rather than six, eight or nine games, is different.

“Always I like it, since I was a player. The league is nice and we are on the verge of that. We are close.”

Guardiola won the Champions League as Barcelona manager in 2009 and 2011 but was a losing finalist with City last season.