Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City need to perform at the highest level to have a genuine shot at lifting their maiden Champions League title despite the addition of Erling Haaland.
Once again, the spotlight is largely on Manchester City and if the Blues can finally end their arduous wait to bring home Europe's elite club competition.
The arrival of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer has helped City make a strong start to the defence of their Premier League title, with the Norwegian sitting on 10 league goals after just six league games.
It seems like a matter of when and not if City can put an end to their European woes as they appear to be slowly but surely cementing their place in the latter stages of the tournament.
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As City prepare to kick off their Champions League campaign against Sevilla on Tuesday evening, Pep Guardiola gave his thoughts on his side’s prospects in the competition this time round.
“In sport, not just football, you always get another opportunity," the 51-year-old said in a press conference on Monday.
"It (Champions League) is a difficult competition, (we are) proud to be here again. We try since day one, we didn’t get much but the last year to the last stages."
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After recurring setbacks in the quarter-final between 2018-20, Manchester City reached the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history in 2021.
However, Guardiola's men came up just short against title rivals Chelsea, who stole the win courtesy of a first half strike from Kai Havertz in Porto to take home the crown.
Guardiola remains coy on his stance on City's chances of finally lifting the Champions League in his seventh season at the Etihad Stadium.
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The Catalan added: "I don’t know, tomorrow (Tuesday) on the pitch - against Borussia Dortmund, Copenhagen. It depends on our performance.
"If we are not good, we go home and get punishments from fans and media and then after a while, move forward. Last season, we fought to be here, we know how difficult it will be."
City went crashing in the Champions League semi-final last season as a late capitulation against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Los Blancos knock Guardiola and co out right at the death.
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Guardiola said: "Spanish teams dominate Europe, I’d love to have a story like Sevilla has, (Manchester) City are far away from Sevilla in Europe.
"Tomorrow (Tuesday), don’t miss the spectacle in this stadium. We try and do a good game and try to do three points.”
Guardiola was further quizzed on how the addition of the in-form Erling Haaland boost City's chances to stand tall in the Champions League this season.
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“All the players, they try to make us better, otherwise (it) makes no sense. That helps us to win titles, I don’t know if we rely all on Erling’s shoulders, we don’t win the Champions League,” the Manchester City manager said.
“We try to create chances for him (Haaland) to score goals. We convinced him to come here, we felt we didn’t have much strikers - (to) try to be involved in the way we play."
Haaland has made an electrifying start to his chapter in England, with seven goals in his last three Premier League appearances ahead of the group-stage opener at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
Guardiola added: "He settles good like Julian (Alvarez) and other players. I understand everyone talks about Erling (Haaland) but I have three, four, five new players and it’s important they all settle.
"We don’t win just for Erling and don’t lose just for Erling. He has a special quality and might be able to solve some problems. If we don’t play good, we aren’t going to win games."
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester City, Premier League, Sevilla, La Liga, Pep Guardiola, Julen Lopetegui, Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund, UEFA, Football
