MIND OUT! CITY ARE COMING THROUGH

Pep: We do NOT have a mental block.. we can definitely win the Champions League by raising our game

PEP GUARDIOLA is adamant Manchester City do not have a mental block when it comes to the Champions League.

Und er Guardiol a , the man brought in to elevate City to the status of European champions, the best the Blues have managed is three straight quarter-final exits.

H i s p r e d e c e s s o r, Ma n u e l Pellegrini, took City to the semifinals in 2016, before making way for the Catalan, but since then the club have regressed in Europe.

But, as Guardiola begins his fifth European campaign with City tonight against Porto, he insists the club does not suf fer fr om an inferiority complex when it comes to the biggest stage of all.

“I don’t think it’s mental,” said Guardiola. “I think this situation is more about desire and avoiding some mistakes we make. For clubs who are used to being every year in the last stages, maybe it would be easier.

“Being in the Champions League 10 times in a row is a good success for us, but I know the reality of this club.

“I know that, after winning domestic titles, the next step is to make a step forward in the Champions League.

“We’ve done good things in domestic competitions in the past, now it’s a new opportunity.

“We talk about this and we have to do things differently to what we have done competition.

“But, at the same time, when you review the games, even at Liverpool when we lost 3-0, or the games against Tottenham or Lyon, I always had the feeling we were close, not far away.

“In the games they were not, in this absolutely none of them, better than us.

“They are little gaps but these little gaps we have to solve and we didn’t.

“When you don’t solve it, it’s because you don’t deserve it.

“That is the best way to improve – that’s all.”

Given the money lavished on the squad since Sheikh Mansour ’s takeover and the quality of players the club has been able t o a tt ra c t , there is no question City have under-achieved in Europe.

A solitary semifinal is a poor return, particularly when set against the achievements of Liverpool , finalists i n 2018, winners in 2019, and Tottenham, runners-up in 2019.

That is why the pressure is on Guardiola and City to f inal ly conquer the Champions League this season and prove they can

stand alongside Europe’s elite clubs. “We had really good moments and had our chances, but mad e mistakes,” said Guardiola.

“In this competition, you cannot do that and go through.

“The expectations are always in every club, every team and manager – not just here.

“But the reality ty is we have not performed med to the level we have ave to, to get through h in this competition.”

City wi l l b e without Kevin De Bruyne, Aymeric Laporte, e, Benjamin Mendy dy and Gabriel Jesus esus tonight, although gh left leftback Oleksandr Zinchenko is back from injury.

“We expect Kevin and Aymeric to return in the next few weeks,” said Guardiola.

“Gabriel, maybe a little bit longer, but we hope that they will come back soon and the team will grow.” 2019: TOTTENHAM Kevin de Bruyne is consoled as City went out of Europe after a 4-4 draw to lose on away goals 2018: LIVERPOOL Mo Salah put in one hell of a display as Liverpool handed Pep’s men a 5-1 mauling 2020: LYON

The French club put paid to City hopes this year as they handed them a 3-1 beating