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
Guardiola salutes Man City players
David de Gea: A world class goalkeeper making mistakes - not one in permanent decline There is no question De Gea's standards have dipped this season but the finger of blame at Manchester United
Man Utd fans split on blaming De Gea or Herrera for Mustafi's
Football: Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over video assistant referee JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Esperance won the CAF Champions League in Tunisia Saturday (June 1) after Wydad Casablanca refused to continue playing on 60 minutes because VAR was unavailable to judge a disallowed equaliser.
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
Milan draw another blank in Frosinone stalemate. against the team with Serie A's worst defensive record heaped more pressure on Milan's Italian media reported that Gattuso could be fired
Raffaele Maiello #8 News, Stats, Photos - Frosinone
Burnley made a big step towards securing Premier League survival after coming back from a goal down to beat Bournemouth 3-1 away as their striker Ashley Barnes scored at both ends in an action
Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1
Dimitar Berbatov welcomed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment - but warned him he is already fighting to keep the job. Former Manchester United striker Berbatov said the hard work starts now for Solskjaer, with all the pressure that comes with managing the biggest club in the world.
Man Utd icon warns Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is already fighting
Win. Burnley (UK), March 2, 2019 (Reuters/NNN) Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday. The Londoners puklep the victory thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha.
Soccer: Palace climb away from trouble with 3-1 win at Burnley
Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink Wolves. Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink Wolves Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk
UPDATE 2-Soccer-Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah
Ole Gunnar Solskjær admits #MUFC were nowhere near their best despite beating Watford today. Ole Gunnar Solskjær admits #MUFC were nowhere near their best despite beating Watford today. More
Unted Vs Watford | Solskjaer Begins Reign With A Win Against
France coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday that Olympique Lyonnais left back Ferland Mendy will join Real Madrid. FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - OGC Nice v Olympique Lyonnais - Allianz
Soccer-Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach
As Jurgen said on Tuesday night, his team is a bunch of "fucking mentality monsters." It's that mentality and determination to get things right this time around that has them back in the Final. On its day, this Liverpool side is capable of accomplishing anything. They can right the past wrongs and can achieve new glories.
Is Jose Mourinho delivering on promises in his second Chelsea
Fifa's Sepp Blatter calls on Iran to end stadium ban for women - The Guardian (March 6, 2015) Asia's elite group finalised - FIFA (February 19, 2015) Iran, Chile friendly in Austria confirmed - IRIB (February 15, 2015) Iran's national soccer team moves up in FIFA ranking - Press TV (February 12, 2015) Asian Cup
Iran dodges Asian Football Confederation sanction, football
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
free watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch the champions league live stream
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming nz
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch premier league stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch premier league live in stream
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer aid live stream
watch champions league live streaming video
watch premier league darts live stream
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch premier league matches live streaming
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch champions league live streaming crictime
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live streaming match
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer game live now
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch soccer games live stream free
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch live soccer game today
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league final live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch coppa america live streaming free
#leicestercity #cristiano #soccer #myfootballuniverse #portsmouthfc #thebeatles #Liamgallagher #hoffenhiem #football #winner #soccermemes #bayern #knuckleball #girlsniteout #lionelmessi #satira #mane #england #Vip45 #championsleague #frasirap #insegreto #liverpoolfc #vandijk #mancity #coutinho #rugby #copaamerica #arsenalfantv #chocolatecoffee #kroenkeout #Celtic #premierleague #calciatoribrutti #football #24x7 #adidasslipon #fcbarcelona #transfernews #Fcb #coys #realmadrid #petercrouch #kickoff #bayernmunich #londoncity #visubal #romania #4Series #oudmehta #fut #ballondor #noelgallagher #footballfans #footballstreaming #oasis #messi #salah #watchlive #uefanationsleague #freekick #Suarez #Barcelona #meunier
No comments:
Post a Comment