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Cape Town - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed the notion he is under pressure to win the Champions League, although he admits it's "a logical next step to become the Champions of Europe".
Guardiola has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell as City manager since arriving at the club in 2016, as he has won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups during his time at the helm.
However, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach has been unable to turn that domestic dominance into success on the continent, as the Citizens have not been beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League since his arrival, with their best showing coming when they reached the last four under Manuel Pellegrini in 2016.
Conquering Europe is certainly a priority for City, but Guardiola insists he is not under any extra pressure to deliver the continent's top prize and he does not feel his legacy at the club will be affected if he fails to lead them to glory.
"Since my first ever press conference in Manchester I have been told I am here to win the Champions League," Guardiola said. "I spoke a few times with chairman Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) and they didn't tell me that.
"They told me I come here to continue a project, to try to evolve the play and to just win games and see how far we can go.
"It's a logical next step to become the Champions of Europe but sometimes it cannot be possible."
City have made a strong start to this season's Champions League, claiming a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine earlier this month.
The Citizens will be back in European action on Tuesday when they take on Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb at the Etihad Stadium – although that might not be as easier fixture as it initially appeared, as Nenad Bjelica's side thrashed Atalanta 4-0 on Matchday One to move to the top of Group C.
- TeamTalk Media
