LONDON • For all of Manchester City's quality, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has said that his team can be considered as one of Europe's elite clubs only if they lift the elusive Champions League trophy.
City have won the Premier League three times since the Abu Dhabi United Group bought them in 2008, but have never gone past the semi-final stage of Europe's premier club competition.
"If you want to be in the international elite... you need to clinch this trophy," Gundogan told uefa.com ahead of today's last-16, first-leg clash at Schalke.
"I think that, if we were to win it some day, the club would enter a new era, the same level as Real (Madrid), Barcelona, Bayern (Munich) or Juventus, clubs that are maybe a step above us."
City were defeated in the last 16 three times in the previous five seasons while their only semi-final appearance came in 2016 when they were knocked out by Real 1-0 on aggregate.
"We've experienced a lot in the Champions League in recent years, not all of it positive, of course. We should've won it at least once," Gundogan added.
"The biggest low was probably being knocked out by Liverpool (in the quarter-finals) last season.
"For that reason, the motivation to go far in this competition is huge and I think we have the quality required."
As their Premier League title rivals Liverpool sunned themselves in Marbella last week, City were getting muddy in beating Newport 4-1 in the FA Cup last Saturday to stay on course for a historic clean sweep of four trophies.
City, top of the Premier League on goal difference, should cruise past a Schalke side languishing in 14th place in the German Bundesliga.
After the Schalke clash, City will bid to lift their first silverware of the season when they take on Chelsea in the League Cup final on Sunday.
"It's better to be in this situation," insisted manager Pep Guardiola at going for four trophies rather than concentrating playing resources towards Champions League and Premier League success.
"It's important in February to be here, in four competitions. Now we go to the biggest stage, the Champions League, and we will see (what happens) in May and June."
Rather than fearing the fatigue from fighting on four fronts, Guardiola is embracing the challenge and at least has the luxury of strength in depth to call on.
Leroy Sane, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez all scored against Newport to make their case for a Champions League start in Gelsenkirchen.
Meanwhile, Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus open their own last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid today as they continue their push for the European title which has eluded them for over two decades.
"We have to score at least one goal in Madrid, our qualification depends on this," warned the Italian.
"The two teams are evenly balanced."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
SCHALKE V MAN CITY
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 3.55am
Lippi earns sympathy despite reign ending on gloomy note
Language
while talking the use of several foul or inappropriate words.
Theatre review: A dark, demonic, adults-only comedy — with
Messi makes Reds pay for missed chances - 5 talking points from Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool The trip to Newcastle on Saturday is a must-win game in the Premier League title race and the Reds
Dejected James Milner knows Reds will rue missed chances at
Football: Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury. Cameroon centre-back Matip had started the Reds' last three matches and his injury is blow to Liverpool's hopes of remaining on top of the
Football: Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury | USA
usasportsradar.com/soccer/football-liverpool-title-bid-hit-by-matip-injury/
Football: Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury December 12, 2018 LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool defender Joel Matip will be out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a fractured collarbone.
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury - Pulse Nigeria
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Watford - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 27, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action with Watford's Adam Masina REUTERS/Russel
Stylish Liverpool Thrash Watford 5-0 To Stay Top Of League
Everton Football Club (/ ˈ ɛ v ər t ən /) is a football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.The club have competed in the top division for a record 116 seasons, missing the top division only four times (1930-31 and three consecutive seasons starting with 1951-52) since The Football League was created in 1888.
Per an official press release, Bayern Munich has announced a brand new youth partnership with the Singapore Sports Council in Singapore.The new partnership will include the international youth tournament series "FC Bayern Youth Cup" along with exchange and education programs for Bayern's youth coaches.
Bayern Munich's SportSG tie-up boosts Singapore player
LONDON: Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk insists he will not face a personal duel against Lionel Messi in his side's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Van Dijk is in contention for
I cannot stop Messi alone, admits Van Dijk | New Straits
Man City could get transfer ban: report, Football News & Top
Arsenal can close the gap on Tottenham to just one point with a win over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. This is the line-up I'd like Unai Emery to select…Goalkeeper: Leno Bernd Leno will
Gabriel Paulista: Wenger talks defender's injury & Koscielny
Welcome to the Official Man City FC website. Get all the latest news now, injury updates, TV match information, player info, match stats and highlights, plus tickets, shirts and much more.
Ben Chilwell opens up on Pep Guardiola chat as Man City boss
Maurizio Sarri: 'Disaster' settled Tottenham 1 - Chelsea 0. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri slammed the use of VAR in the Spurs game. Mauricio Pochettino says his @SpursOfficial side
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says PLAYERS will decide if Kepa
0 comments:
Post a Comment