Guardiola mocks former achievements with puzzling "nobody helps" Man City claim

Pep Guardiola has joked that his previous achievements were due to being at big clubs after Manchester City edged closer to qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds.

The Premier League champions saw off Club Brugge 4-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday night, scoring three times in the second half.

Their ambitions were given a helping hand though after RB Leipzig scored a late penalty to draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Germany.

That 2-2 draw means City sit top of their group, by a point, with games against PSG and Leipzig to come.

Guardiola was quizzed on the helping hand given to them by the Bundesliga outfit post-game, but hit back, claiming his side do not get assistance.

He told BT Sport: "We help each other. Listen, with what we have done these last few years, I promise you, when you are at Man City, nobody helps you.

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"No one. Everything we've done, we've had to do it. That's why I'm so satisfied.

"When you are in hierarchy clubs and big clubs, then I understand, but not here."

There is often a narrative that bigger clubs get leeway when it comes to major decisions. Guardiola coached Bayern Munich and Barcelona before taking over in Manchester. Those two clubs, amongst the biggest in the world, can be accused of enjoying privileges others don't.

Some of the Catalan's previous achievements, especially in the Champions League, have come amid accusations of favourable decisions from referees.

"I know it perfectly. That's why all the titles I won before were because I was at the big clubs," he said sarcastically.

"The pleasure is higher here. Fight to win against the hierarchy in the Premier League."

Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch said after his side's draw with PSG that the officials had been generous to their heavyweight opponents.

He said: "I have the impression the referees decide in favour of the big teams instead of the small ones. It's hard to get respect from the refs."

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At Barcelona, a team hailed as the best club side ever, Guardiola won three La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns. In one year the Spanish side won six major honours.

Then, at Bayern, Guardiola continued their dominance of German football, breaking numerous records along the way with three successive Bundesliga titles. He also added two German Cups.

Now at City, the 50-year-old has claimed three league titles in the last four years whilst also adding five domestic cups.

Last term Guardiola came to within 90 minutes of a third Champions League triumph but his side lost to Chelsea in Porto.