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
Australia recovered smartly from their opening loss to Jordan to breathe fresh life into their Asian Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Palestine in Dubai on Friday.
Palestine 0 Australia 3: Maclaren and Mabil help Socceroos
Jong Ajax won Eerste Divisie (the league below the Eredivisie) last year, while Heitinga's under-19s topped their pool in the UEFA Youth League and the under-17s took the Future Cup last April. All the while, the club tries to stay true to its foundation: giving youth a chance and playing beautiful football while keeping Cruyff at the forefront.
The Ajax stars who've stunned the world with Champions League
Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers The Straits Times. SINGAPORE - In six months, Hougang United have transformed themselves from wooden
Atletico Madrid loan midfielder Gelson Martins to struggling
sportslifetale.com/soccer/atletico-madrid-loan-midfielder-gelson-martins-to-struggling-monaco/
Atletico Madrid loan out-of-favour midfielder Gelson Martins to struggling Monaco for rest of season Gelson Martins has not played for Atletico Madrid at all so far in 2019 Portuguese player joined La Liga club in the summer, signing as a free agent Diego Simeone's side have allowed him to join struggling Monaco in Ligue 1 […]
Sukhothai News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Teamsheet - soccer
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final | Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is a doubt for Wednesday's Europa League final against Arsenal because of a knee injury, with coach Maurizio Sarri rat
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final
Jose Mourinho rules himself out of Benfica job Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ruled himself out of the vacant job at Benfica, saying he has no intention of coaching in his native Portugal for the time being.
José Mourinho breaks cover to rule himself out of Benfica
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 31, 2019, with the headline 'Start off well, Solskjaer tells United after winning run ends'. Print Edition
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer misses out on history as Man Utd winning
Lions line up 2 friendlies, to get new coach Yoshida soon The Straits Times; Football: Singapore to play Solomon Islands and Myanmar in friendlies, new national coach soon to be unveiled The
Lions stutter to narrow victory over Solomon Islands, new
Hazard's Chelsea future in doubt, Real move mooted, Football
Solari denies La Liga title race is over after Real Madrid suffer shock home loss to Girona. But even though Madrid's shock home loss to struggling Girona last weekend ended a five-game winning
Cristiano Ronaldo wrong to say Real Madrid are not humble
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge Everton in five-goal thriller men threw away an early lead through Harry Kane to lose 2-1 at Southampton yesterday. football chiefs ordered to
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal
Liverpool go top with Salah winner vs. Saints. Mohamed Salah scored a classy winner as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Friday night to return to the top of the Premier League.
Mourinho demanded the full payout, with more than £40m due on the new four-year contract that had been announced, deliberately, one day before the start of their Premier League defence against
Manchester United sack Mourinho - espn.com
Buchanan goal hands Canada slender 1-0 win over Cameroon a winning start to the women's World Cup as they edged Cameroon 1-0 at a rainy Stade de La Mosson on Monday. post just before
Buchanan goal hands Canada slender 1-0 win over Cameroon
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer live stream apk
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming qatar
free watch soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming bola
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch champions league live streaming now
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch the premier league live stream
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league final live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch premier league stream reddit
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch soccer aid live stream
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch us soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
#salah #livesports #lovefootball #serieatim #Vip45 #mane #manchesterunited #cappucino #kopisusu #henderson #24x7 #433skills #liverpoolfans #cr7 #acmilan #lionelmessi #myfootballuniverse #chocolate #league1 #livestreaming #sunderlandafc #trollfootball #knuckleball #gym #fcbarcelona #kroenkeout #soccer #MSport #sumbertv #transfernews #Celtic #Liamgallagher #goodday #bayervshoffenheim #liverpool #oasis #klopp #premierleague #soccerbible #realmadrid #england #fut #soccer #soccermemes #Sunday #PartyTime #championsleague #nutmeg #neymar #visubal #noelgallagher #coyg #realmadrid #Fcb #adidasslipon #coffeebreak #valcea #cristiano
No comments:
Post a Comment