Manchester City vs Schalke: Pep Guardiola admits he wants Bayern to beat Liverpool in Champions League

The ex-Bayern boss admitted that he still has a great deal of affection for his former employers

Pep Guardiola has fond memories of his time at Bayern Munich (Getty)

Pep Guardiola is hoping Bayern Munich progress past Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals after seeing his Manchester City side reach the last eight.

Guardiola, who managed Bayern to three Bundesliga titles between 2013 and 2016, admitted that he still has a great deal of affection for his former employers.

City booked their place in Friday’s quarter-final draw with a resounding 7-0 second-leg win over Schalke 04 on Tuesday night.

And Guardiola could face Bayern in the next round if the Bavarians overcome Liverpool, City’s Premier League title rivals.

When asked how he saw Wednesday’s last-16 tie playing out, Guardiola said: “I want Bayern, sorry for the English people.

“I am big fan of this club and I love Munich and all the people, I would like Bayern to go through but it will not be easy. It is so demanding a game for both.

“In terms of what happened with German teams, last decade the Spanish teams control everything with Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico arriving many times in the finals.

“Now Real and Atletico is out. Hopefully Barcelona go through. For English football it is incredible, three teams and maybe Liverpool.”

City were utterly rampant against Schalke, stretching their 3-2 first-leg lead to 10-2 by the end of the night.

Few sides in Friday’s draw will fancy their chances against the Premier League champions but Guardiola was reluctant to suggest that his side’s display would worry other teams.

“I don’t know, but will be another situation,” he said. “There is still two, three weeks until the next game so we will see.

“Be calm, prepare the quarter-finals of [the FA] Cup at Swansea away and try and reach the semi-finals.

“The international break is a huge risk to the players. We need the players [fit] and if we can compete until the end but if the players who are injured don’t come back it won’t be possible.”