Manchester City are looking to take another step closer to the Champions League title, which has eluded them so far. Boss Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that he will be judged on his success in the competition. However, this year's tournament represents City's best chance of becoming European champions, with the competition being "not as daunting" as in previous years, according to football journalist Rory Smith.
Of the teams left in the competition, only Bayern Munich, Napoli and Benfica are top of their domestic leagues. This season's tournament is "very odd," said pundit Chris Sutton, and there is no outstanding team. Manchester City have not played their best football yet, but they have found ways to win. Smith believes City, along with Bayern and Real Madrid, are the three established powers and the three outstanding teams in the competition.
Guardiola has won nine major trophies since taking charge of Manchester City in 2016, but he has never won the Champions League. He acknowledged that he will be judged on his record in the competition. The closest City came to winning the trophy was when they reached the final in 2021 but lost to Chelsea. Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension to 2025 in November and wants to continue fighting for trophies.
City can secure a place in the quarter-finals if they win their last-16 second leg at home to RB Leipzig. Guardiola has told midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to focus on the "simple things" to get back to his best form. De Bruyne has registered 17 assists in 34 appearances this season, but Guardiola has started him on the bench in four of City's past nine top-flight games. Despite not winning the Champions League yet, De Bruyne feels that City have done well in the competition and is focused on winning the upcoming games. The Champions League has long been considered the ultimate prize for Europe's top football clubs, and Manchester City's quest for their first European title has been a major focus for the club's fans and management.
Pep Guardiola, the team's highly respected manager, has won the competition twice before as coach of Barcelona, but he has yet to achieve the same success with City. This year, however, many experts believe that City have a strong chance of going all the way.
Despite their recent dominance in the Premier League, City have struggled to make their mark on the European stage, with a number of frustrating exits in recent years. This has led many to question whether Guardiola's tactics are as effective in the Champions League as they are in domestic competitions.
However, the team's performances this season have been impressive, and they have been widely tipped as one of the favorites to lift the trophy this year. With a strong squad featuring some of the world's best players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, and Riyad Mahrez, City have the quality and depth to compete with anyone.
Of course, the road to the final is never easy, and City will have to navigate some tough fixtures if they are to progress to the latter stages of the competition. But the fact that there are no clear favorites this year, combined with City's impressive form, means that the team will be feeling quietly confident about their chances.
For Guardiola, the Champions League is the one trophy that has eluded him since joining City, and he knows that his legacy at the club will be defined by his success in this competition. But regardless of what happens this season, it is clear that City have the talent and the ambition to continue competing at the highest level for years to come.