City handed UEFA boost in bid to win Champions League
CITY have climbed into the UEFA top ten for the first time in their history.
Pep Guardiola’s side sit ninth in the rankings for club competitions this season - the highest position of any English club with Arsenal down in 11th, Chelsea 13th and United in 16th.
European football’s governing body sorts each team based on their performances in continental competition over five seasons, combined with the strength of their domestic league.
Despite a Champions League exit to Monaco last season, the Blues have been recognised for four consecutive years of appearances in the knockout rounds of the competition, including a run to the semi-finals in 2016.
Since leaping into the top 20 in 2014, City have continued to progress and now appear in the top 10 for the first time by moving ahead of Arsenal, Chelsea and Benfica.
That should consolidate City’s position among Europe’s elite sides as they strive to reach a first Champions League final.
The club’s third-place finish in the Premier League in Guardiola’s first season at the Etihad Stadium ensures that City progress straight to the competition’s group stage next term, rather than having to play a qualifying round as they did 12 months ago.
And the new high co-efficient means City will be seeded in pot two for the group stage draw, meaning they will avoid the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
That will please Guardiola, as he plots an assault on multiple trophies at home and abroad.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has made no secret of the club’s ambitions on the European stage, as well as in the Premier League.
Speaking in May, Khaldoon revealed: “It excites me trying to win the Champions League - and hopefully doing it.
“That dream excites me every day and knowing we can do it.
“The dream of doing the Treble, yes. You mentioned the Double, no I want to do the Treble, or else let’s go for the Quadruple! Why not?
“We should have that aspiration.
“I have it, no doubt. Sheikh Mansour drives me for it every day, but you look at the organisation, you see it in Pep’s eyes in everybody within our group.
“Pep wants to win it all and that’s what I love most about him because that’s how I feel, we want to win it all.
“We might not be able to achieve it, but I can assure you, we’re going to try to do that.”