De Bruyne says Man City want to be kings of Europe
KEVIN de Bruyne insists Manchester City’s past Champions League experience has no relevance as they target European joy this season.
City eased into the quarter-finals for the fourth successive year as they finished off Borussia Monchengladbach in their last16 tie on Tuesday, winning 2-0 in Budapest for a 4-0 aggregate success.
Having become regulars at the business end of the competition, the challenge for City is now to kick on and win it for the first time.
The club have only reached the semi-finals once before, in 2016.
Asked how past experience can help them take the next step this time, De Bruyne said: “It doesn’t help at all. It is a new game, new team, new everything.
“To compete at this level, it is all about details. We try to do our job, but (the next game) is still three or four weeks away, so this is something that is put to the side and now we think about Saturday against Everton.”
City already had one foot in the quarter-finals before Tuesday’s clash, but De Bruyne all but sealed their progress with a stunning long-range strike after 12 minutes.
The Belgian’s all-round performance also suggested a return to form after a recent spell out injured, but he did not want to draw attention to himself.
“It is always a nice feeling to score a goal, but I think the most important thing is that we qualified and we won,” said De Bruyne, whose goal was followed by another from Ilkay Gundogan six minutes later.
“My personal performance doesn’t matter.”
Premier League leaders City now turn their attention to their FA Cup quarter-final at Everton but, like manager Pep Guardiola, De Bruyne is not entertaining thoughts of the quadruple yet.
He said: “I remember because people two years ago were saying that (we could win it) but it is very hard.
“The amount of games and the physical and mental ability you need to have as a player or as a squad is very high.
“We try to do our best and focus game by game. That is the only thing we can do.”