Manchester City CEO reacts to UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw

Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano has provided his thoughts on Manchester City’s draw in the 2022/23 edition of Champions League group stages.

Since their takeover in 2008, Manchester City have had their sights set on lifting the elusive Champions League trophy.

However, there is no denying that the club have struggled to get over the line in the competition.

With shock defeats to the likes of AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and Lyon in recent years, City have consistently struggled in Europe.

It is key to emphasise that since 2021, Pep Guardiola’s side have made major inroads in the holy grail of club football.

In the 2020/21 season, the Sky Blues made it all the way to their first-ever final in the competition’s history, albeit suffering a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Last term, it took a miraculous comeback from eventual winners Real Madrid to eliminate the side in the semi-final.

However, a new campaign in Europe beckons for City who aim to become champions, as they were drawn alongside the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen in Group G.

Tough tests await the Premier League champions in the continent’s elite competition.

With Dortmund always being a threat in Europe, Sevilla’s pedigree in the tournament and FC Copenhagen’s ability to spring a surprise, the Blues could face a challenging six fixtures.

Alongside Group A and Group C, Manchester City may be a part of the toughest group on paper.

Ferran Soriano, the CEO of the club gave his thoughts on his side’s draw.

“Exciting”, he opened, as quoted by the club’s official website.

Soriano continued: “I think you can never say you are too happy or too sad about a draw. A draw is a draw. There are some good opponents, some good games.

"We went to Copenhagen many years ago in 2009, so we are happy to go back after so many years. Sevilla is a fantastic place, a good squad and a good coach. We played them in 2015 so maybe it was time to come back.”

The Spaniard laid special emphasis on City’s blockbuster tie of the round against Borussia Dortmund.

“Of course, Dortmund is a special game. We did play them in 2021 in the quarter-final but it was during the COVID times with no fans and that was a pity.

"Now we will have the experience of playing in Dortmund and in Manchester with fans and maybe with the additional excitement that we have a couple of players that used to play for Dortmund – Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan.”

The former Barcelona vice-president summed up his thoughts by saying: “Overall, I think it will be a great experience for fans and for players.”

Ferran Soriano is right in pointing out that while Manchester City will certainly face a challenge against some top sides in their Champions League group, there is a lot to look forward to from their start in the competition.