Pep Guardiola explains ‘idol’ Julia Roberts regret after huge Man City win

Pep Guardiola has made it perfectly clear that he has only three idols in life - and one of them is Hollywood star Julia Roberts. The Manchester City boss made the claim by adding he is a failure in the Champions League.

The Spaniard has never managed to add the trophy to his bloated collection of silverware at the Etihad Stadium despite a driving lust to do so. Despite that desire, the former Barcelona schemer has joked that even if he wins the competition three times on the trot, he is still a failure because his ‘idol’ Julia Roberts snubbed Manchester City to spend time at Old Trafford - the home of cross-city rivals Manchester United.

Speaking in a press conference in the aftermath of City’s 7-0 win over RB Leipzig, Guardiola said: “I am a failure in the Champions League. If I win the Champions League three times in a row I will be a failure.

“I have three idols in my life. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols.

“Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester - not in the 90s when Sir Alex [Ferguson] was winning titles and titles and titles. She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right?

“And she went to visit Man United. She didn't come to see us. That's why even if I win the Champions League it will not compare for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn't come to see us.

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“Even if I win the Champions League it will not compare to this disappointment I had.”

Roberts - a star of films such as Notting Hill, Ocean’s Eleven and much more - visited Manchester back in 2016 to take in the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford. Diafra Sakho had given the Hammers the lead early on only for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to equalise.

Jose Mourinho ended up being sent off on what was a hugely disappointing evening for United. Despite the result, Roberts appeared to enjoy herself.

She attended the match with her husband Daniel Moder and her three children, who are thought to be Red Devils’ supporters. The American took to the pitch after the full-time whistle where she took photographs and met Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick.

Roberts might now be tempted to attend the Etihad for the first time given the entertainment that City served up on Tuesday evening against Leipzig. Guardiola’s men eased into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-0 victory.

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland hit an incredible five goals throughout the evening with Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan also both managing to find the back of the net. They are next back in action this weekend as they welcome back Vincent Kompany and his Burnley side for an FA Cup quarter-final tie.