Man City must challenge for the trophy rich owners crave

And so Manchester City’s quest to fill the one blank space that remains in a trophy cabinet stocked handsomely through recent years resumes in Basle.

The Champions League is the competition owners Abu Dhabi have grown to value above all others, the silverware to affirm City as a continental force, but it has proved frustratingly elusive since their 2008 takeover.

A semi-final defeat by Real Madrid in 2016 is the best City have managed and it is an underwhelming sum when set against the continual acquisition of supremely talented players and a growing spend that tops one billion pounds.

Manchester City will turn their attention to the Champions League on Tuesday night

Sergio Aguero looks dejected after Manchester City were knocked out by Monaco last year

Sergio Aguero looks dejected after Manchester City were knocked out by Monaco last year

Manchester City reached the semi-final stage in 2016 but were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid

Manchester City reached the semi-final stage in 2016 but were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid

MAN CITY’S RECORD

2016-17: Champions League round of 16

2015-16: Champions League semi-finals

2014-15: Champions League round of 16

2013-14: Champions League round of 16

2012-13: Champions League group stage

2011-12: UEFA Europa League round of 16 (having transferred from UEFA Champions League group stage)

2010-11: UEFA Europa League round of 16

2009-10: did not take part in UEFA club competition

2008-09: UEFA Cup quarter-finals

2007-08: did not take part in UEFA club competition

The project to bring Pep Guardiola to Manchester — placing chosen executives in key positions, agreeing a pact with Manuel Pellegrini, assembling a squad with a particular profile — was ultimately geared towards changing that record in Europe’s elite club tournament.

Guardiola’s two Champions League victories with Barcelona stand as the ideal for winning with style and ultimately it is that garlanded glory City wished to replicate when bringing in the Spaniard.

Being knocked out at this stage last season by Monaco was not in the blueprint. The French team were vibrant and daring but City paid the price for defensive naivety. No side should depart a competition having scored six goals across a two-legged tie.

Guardiola will not abandon his attacking instincts of course, but last summer’s enormous spend on three defenders and a goalkeeper indicated defeat in the principality had caused some reflection.

Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Danilo and Ederson enhanced City’s rearguard considerably, while the £57million cost of Aymeric Laporte was judged necessary in January. The 23-year-old centre back can play in the Champions League.

In last season’s second-leg loss to Monaco, Guardiola started Bacary Sagna, Aleksandar Kolorov, and Gael Clichy so it is clear work was required. But now he has all the pieces in place to make this the year where Abu Dhabi’s influence is finally rewarded with a first Champions League title.

Success might also alter the approach City’s fans have taken to the tournament. Annoyed by the seeding system which initially worked against their club and further upset by scandalously weak punishments for racist behaviour by opponents, supporters displayed their displeasure at UEFA by booing the Champions League anthem.

Pep Guardiola was brought to the Etihad Stadium to win the prestigious cup competition

Pep Guardiola was brought to the Etihad Stadium to win the prestigious cup competition

City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is desperate to conquer Europe

City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is desperate to conquer Europe

The sense City fans were less than fussed about European attainment could be seen in occasionally sparse Etihad attendances and even the semi against Real failed to spark the level of excitement expected.

That would surely change should Guardiola manage to translate City’s remarkable domestic form across. The distance put between their Premier League rivals provides scope for Guardiola to prioritise the Champions League at certain points. Another top-flight title is already won, let’s see a fully-charged City head into contests against Real, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, or Paris Saint-Germain.

That is not to dismiss Basle but City may as well give up now if they cannot navigate past a team currently five points behind Young Boys of Bern in the Swiss Super League.

Ignore the six substitutes on the bench at Turf Moor, Guardiola has a number of elite options when it comes to beating any team and in Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne has two world class players in peak form. Add in Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva, and it is an offensive group to cause envy anywhere. Starting on Tuesday night at St Jakob-Park. 

 



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