Manchester City are one day going to be like Barcelona
in Europe, according to manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Manuel Pellegrini insists his club are destined to win the
Champions League despite their struggles in Europe under him.
City have been eliminated in the last 16 the past two seasons,
while they were sent packing in the group stages in 2011-12 and
2012-13.
Pellegrini, who guided Villarreal to the semi-finals and Malaga to
the last eight, said he was confident City would eventually
become European powerhouses.
"We have played Barcelona in the last two years and if we had
played Barcelona at Villarreal or Malaga then maybe we
wouldn't have gone so far," he said.
"This is a very young team compared with Barcelona, Real
Madrid, Bayern Munich or Juventus. We are younger than the
teams who normally win the Champions League over the last 10
years.
"Our team has only arrived in the last few years and we are
improving every season.
"That will continue and I am absolutely sure that we will arrive
to be an important team that wins the Champions League."
City, who suffered a 4-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday as they
gave up top spot to rivals Manchester United in the Premier
League, visit Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions
League on Wednesday.
Pellegrini said his team's focus needed to remain on the league.
"Being a strong team in Europe must be our target but not at the
expense of the Premier League," he said.
"One fake game in the Champions League and you can be out,
while the Premier League is all about the work you do over the
entire year.
"We must not concentrate on the one thing. It must be a target -
but not an obsession. One day, though, we are going to be a
strong team like Barcelona are today."
in Europe, according to manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Manuel Pellegrini insists his club are destined to win the
Champions League despite their struggles in Europe under him.
City have been eliminated in the last 16 the past two seasons,
while they were sent packing in the group stages in 2011-12 and
2012-13.
Pellegrini, who guided Villarreal to the semi-finals and Malaga to
the last eight, said he was confident City would eventually
become European powerhouses.
"We have played Barcelona in the last two years and if we had
played Barcelona at Villarreal or Malaga then maybe we
wouldn't have gone so far," he said.
"This is a very young team compared with Barcelona, Real
Madrid, Bayern Munich or Juventus. We are younger than the
teams who normally win the Champions League over the last 10
years.
"Our team has only arrived in the last few years and we are
improving every season.
"That will continue and I am absolutely sure that we will arrive
to be an important team that wins the Champions League."
City, who suffered a 4-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday as they
gave up top spot to rivals Manchester United in the Premier
League, visit Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions
League on Wednesday.
Pellegrini said his team's focus needed to remain on the league.
"Being a strong team in Europe must be our target but not at the
expense of the Premier League," he said.
"One fake game in the Champions League and you can be out,
while the Premier League is all about the work you do over the
entire year.
"We must not concentrate on the one thing. It must be a target -
but not an obsession. One day, though, we are going to be a
strong team like Barcelona are today."


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