Ilkay Gundogan says Man City will only become a top team when they win the Champions League 

‘If you want to be in the international elite, you need to clinch this trophy’: Ilkay Gundogan says Man City will only become a top team when they win the Champions League

  • Manchester City travel to Schalke on Wednesday in the Champions League 
  • Success in the competition has so far eluded City since Abu Dhabi takeover
  • And Ilkay Gundogan believes they need to win in Europe to join elite clubs
  • Guardiola’s side continue to fight for four pieces of silverware this season 

Ilkay Gundogan insists Manchester City can only become one of the elite when they win the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side go to Schalke on Wednesday for the first leg of their last 16 tie.

European glory has eluded them since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008 and they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Liverpool last season.

Ilkay Gundogan believes Manchester City can only join the elite European clubs when they win the Champions League

Gundogan pictured in training on Monday ahead of City's visit to Schalke in Europe 

Gundogan pictured in training on Monday ahead of City’s visit to Schalke in Europe 

‘If you want to be in the international elite, when you want to be there both as a club and as a player, you need to clinch this trophy,’ Gundogan said.

‘You can’t go past it, at least in my opinion. I think that, if we were to win it someday, the club would enter a new era.

‘(It would be lifted) to the same level as Real, Barca, Bayern or Juventus, clubs that are maybe a step above us. Maybe not in the way they play football, but as a club at least.

‘Our job is to try and give it our all to make it a reality someday. We’ll try and will hopefully manage that somehow.

‘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. So as you can imagine, there’s a very big drive within us to do something in the Champions League. The biggest low was probably being knocked out by Liverpool last season.

Success in the Champions League has so far eluded Pep Guardiola during his time at City

Success in the Champions League has so far eluded Pep Guardiola during his time at City

Man City fixtures 

Premier League unless stated

Wednesday Schalke (A)

Champions League last-16, first leg

Sunday Chelsea (Wembley)

Carabao Cup final

February 27 West Ham (H)

March 2 Bournemouth (A)

March 9 Watford (H)

March 12 Schalke (H)

Champions League last-16, second leg 

‘For that reason, the motivation to go far in this competition is huge and I think we have the quality required.’

City topped Group F and last played Schalke in the UEFA Cup in 2008, winning 2-0 in Germany.

They are tipped to progress past the German side with Gundogan insisting they must embrace the favourites tag.

‘We are clear favourites in this tie and rightly so,’ he told the club’s official site.

‘We accept that role and we’re aware of it. However, it has to be said that every team in the last 16 has earned the right to be there.

‘Because of that, we’ll respect our opponents and prepare for it as if it’s a normal final because it’s the knockout phase and every mistake can be severely punished.’

Gundogan celebrates scoring for Manchester City in their 6-0 thrashing of Chelsea last week

Gundogan celebrates scoring for Manchester City in their 6-0 thrashing of Chelsea last week

The 28-year-old grew up in Gelsenkirchen and watched Schalke as a youngster and still feels a strong connection to the city.

He added: ‘Football meant everything to us, for my family, for my older brother, who is two years older than me and kind of paved my way with his way of playing football.

‘I remember that the first two games I saw were Schalke games. The first one, when I was very young, I cannot remember the exact age, but I can remember that I went to Parkstadion and watched a game in the stadium for the first time.’

 

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