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
Araibi was a vocal critic of AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, a member of Bahrain's ruling family and cousin of the king, when he contested the FIFA presidential election in 2015. The post FIFA says in regular contact with AFC over detained refugee player appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said on Tuesday the club will pay the fee for striker Emiliano Sala if they are contractually required to do so. Sala had signed for the Premier League side and was flying to his new team from his old club Nantes in France when his plane went missing over the Channel on January 21.
Cardiff to pay Sala fee if necessary - Report | New Straits
The girlfriend of Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich has dramatically apologised after being accused of racism by posing in a chair that resembled a bound and semi-naked black woman. Art expert and
Outrage over 'black woman chair' - news.com.au
'Too early' to know if Casillas will play after heart attack. Spanish goalkeeper remained in hospital after suffering a heart attack during training with his football club Porto.
Casillas denies he has retired from football after receiving
Football: Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse. LONDON (REUTERS) - Premier League leaders Liverpool failed to fully capitalise on Manchester City's defeat the previous night as they were held 1-1 at home by Leicester City on Wednesday (Jan 30) while below them the top-four fight took another twist.
Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse - Reuters
considerable time, having beaten United in the 2009 final and. supplied, amongst others, Xavi and Andres Iniesta to the Spain side. who were crowned world champions last summer, in addition to
"We will go to Barcelona knowing we can score goals
A brisk run of form continued for the Red Devils as they huffed past Watford with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made quite a statement after being named as the full-time manager of Manchester United. This win has pushed the Red Devils into the top four with Arsenal itching to steal the spot.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hints at Paul Pogba change after Man Utd
On January 21, soccer player Emiliano Sala was traveling via a private plane between England and France when the aircraft suddenly disappeared over the English Channel. After 24 hours of searching and no sign of a plane or debris anywhere, the athlete was presumed dead.
Body found in wreckage of plane carrying soccer player Sala
LONDON -- Maurizio Sarri backed Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen to be the foundation of Chelsea for years to come after all three academy graduates performed
Maurizio Sarri on Callum Hudson-Odoi's prospects of starting
Reds the hungrier facet, says Van Dijk. waka March 3, 2019. 0 0 2 minutes read. Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn StumbleUpon Tumblr Pinterest Reddit VKontakte
Virgil van Dijk Says Champions League Win 'Just the Start' of
World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon to leave PSG: club Gianluigi Buffon joined PSG last summer after ending a trophy-packed 17-year career at Italian giants Juventus.
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain
yoursoccernews.com/world-cup-winner-buffon-to-leave-paris-saint-germain/
"Following joint discussions, Paris Saint-Germain and Gianluigi Buffon have agreed to not renew the legendary goalkeeper's contract which expires on 30 June 2019," PSG said in a statement. The 41-year-old goalkeeper, who won the World Cup in 2006 and is Italy's most-capped player with 176 appearances, did not say whether he would be
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain | Free
Mourinho concedes Man United incapable of living with Liverpool (From left) Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri celebrate to pile the misery on Jose Mourinho
Mourinho concedes Man Utd incapable of living with Liverpool
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title. 3 Min Read. Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Lille v Paris St Germain - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France - April 12, 2019 Paris St Germain
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a win against Leicester at King Power Stadium. Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety
Football: PSG buy Argentina midfielder Paredes for estimated
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen