Manchester City were blocked by Real Madrid in the Champions League last year but their long-term goal still looks possible
Where Real Madrid had greeted Manchester City in the spring of 2023 as another prey to devour again, their humbling at the Etihad left them hurt and anxious ahead of their quarter-final reunion. The club that has dominated European football for so much of the last decade were nervous when Pep Guardiola's side sought to slay them again.
City's rise in the European standings is an enormous achievement, and they sit top of the UEFA rankings yet again heading into the new campaign. Yet that table is no trophy like the one that Real Madrid continue to get their hands on and the Blues will feel they need to get the better of them this season if their plan is to make the progress they want it to.
If that is to be this season, it will be under a new format. An attempt to shake up the format - and, coincidentally of course, make more money - means two extra group games that will include a top seed and the potential of an eliminator round to get to the knockouts if City don't finish in the top eight spots of an expanded 32-team competition.
Nevertheless, City will aim to be in Munich on May 31 and it is another symbolic venue for Guardiola in what could be his last season at the club.
"If we increase everyone a little bit, we increase 11 players, our strength will be 11 times better. This is the target to focus. If five leagues in a row doesn't sound that different than four, two Champions League trophies in three years is a much better spin than one in nine. There is also hunger in the squad both from those who weren't here to win the Champions League and those who were but didn't have as big a role as they wanted.
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