Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes if they don’t conquer the Champions League this term it would be branded as a “failure”.
City travel to France to face Lyon and a draw would be enough to secure a passage to the next round. Over the years, City haven’t been able to make their mark in the Champions League but Guardiola wants to change that this season.
Despite their domination in the Premier League last season they couldn’t replicate their form on the European soil as they were outplayed by Liverpool in the quarter finals who went on to seal a place in the final.
City have already tasted defeat in this competition but their recent form suggests Guardiola shouldn’t be worried ahead of the tricky test in France.
He said, “For the people who don’t love us too much, who use money as an argument, then we have failed if we don’t win the Champions League.
“For the other people, especially our fans, the people who say, ‘OK, we enjoy watching our games, we are happy with what the guys are doing’, I am pretty sure they don’t have regrets about what these guys are doing for the last 12, 14, 15 months every three days.
“That is the best compliment, the best success a team can have.
“But we want to qualify [for the last 16], continue that level in the Premier League, being solid away and at home, and arrive in the best condition possible [at that stage] with everyone fit and [ready to] compete.
“Then – OK, try it again, why not? And if we go to the quarter-finals and maybe you are lucky to go forward. After that, the competition it speaks for itself. A lot of desires, a lot of wishes we can have at the end.
“The competition is so tough, so clinical, to say if you are better you are going to win, if you don’t, you are going home.”
