‘Obsession and desire in correct proportion’

Pep outlines City’ s mindset for the biggest game of all De Bruyne determined to better previous near-misses

Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne admit winning the Champions League has become both a dream and an obsession for Manchester City.

City stand on the brink of glory as they prepare to face Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul tonight.

Guardiola’s side are strong favourites for a game that could not only see them crowned European champions for the first time, but complete a famous treble.

The Premier League winners are hoping to put years of frustration behind them after several near misses in their pursuit of the prize they covet most.

De Bruyne gave his feelings on the matter when he was asked if victory was a “dream” or an “obsession” as City held a pre-match press conference at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium yesterday.

“Maybe both, it depends who you ask,” said the Belgium playmaker. “Every professional player wants to win the Champions League and be on top.

“If you can win the Champions League, you’ve reached one of the biggest things you can.

“To compete every year is amazing, and I’ve been able to compete against the best, but we’ve got a chance to better that if we are good enough.”

City have reached the knockout stages of the tournament in each of Guardiola’s seven seasons as manager but they are yet to fulfil their top ambition.

Their runners-up finish two seasons ago, when they were beaten by Chelsea in the final in Porto, is the closest they have come.

Guardiola, who won the competition twice as Barcelona boss, said: “It’s absolutely a dream, yes.

“To achieve things you always have to have the correct proportion of obsession and desire.

“It’s a positive word for the desire and will to win it. It is of course a dream for us.”

City’s outstanding season has been fuelled by the goalscoring of Erling Haaland.

The prolific Norwegian has netted 52 goals in an outstanding first campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland admitted this week he was brought to City to win the Champions League and Guardiola – whose two previous successes came in tandem with Lionel Messi at Barcelona – hopes he proves to be the final piece of the jigsaw.

Asked what he would advise managers hoping to emulate his achievements, Guardiola said: “Have good players – have Messi, have Haaland. This is my success. I’m not joking.

“Every manager who has had success has had strong institutions and exceptional players. I’ve never scored a goal as a manager.”

Haaland actually goes into the game having scored just once in his last seven outings but this is not a concern for Guardiola.

“I don’t have doubts,” he said. “If you have doubts about Erling scoring you are a very lonely person. Tomorrow he will be ready to help us win the Champions League.”

Ruben Dias is confident City will thrive on the pressure in the final.

The City defender has no doubt his team-mates will step up to the challenge in Istanbul.

City have already claimed the domestic double after an outstanding late-season charge, that saw them win two trophies.

Dias said: “We love the pressure, we love it. The pressure will make you run faster, jump higher, be more focused.

“That’s what these kind of games need and we need to embrace it.

“We enjoy the moment and we know what it means to our club, the fans, our families and we never forget to enjoy it.”

After an inconsistent spell either side of the World Cup, City hit form in the spring to reel in Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and retain their title.

They then powered through to the Champions League final with stunning victories over Bayern Munich and holders Real Madrid.

After beating rivals Manchester United to win the FA Cup last weekend, momentum seems very much to be on their side.

Dias said: “I’ve been saying this for a long time – when we get to February and the decisions come up, that’s the sweet spot.

“You can see the character of a team when you arrive on these stages, you can see whether a team wants to move forward or starts hiding.

“Since that moment we’ve been showing up every time and tomorrow will be no different.

“It’s another time for all of us to step up to the occasion.”