Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City have shown that they have the credentials to retain the Champions League this season.
The Citizens completed a historic treble last season by winning their first-ever Champions League trophy, beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
Man City have won each of their last eight Champions League matches – a record run for an English club in the competition – including all six in this season's group-stage, and they are now gearing up for a last-16 first-leg tie with Copenhagen in Denmark on Tuesday.
Ahead of the contest, Guardiola has heaped praise on his side's mentality and their ability to adapt in difficult situations, which could play a huge part in the club's quest to win back-to-back Champions League titles.
Asked at a press conference on Monday evening if Man City can retain their European trophy, Guardiola said: "We challenge ourselves and challenge the opponents to want to beat you. We feel it more than ever in the Premier League and in the Champions League we want to do it again.
"We have good characters and personalities in the team with how they react in the bad moments. When I arrived eight years ago I had the feeling maybe this competition was too much for us, but our defeats and bad moments helped us to grow up and be in the position we are – two finals and one semi-final in the last three years – and the whole club has awareness that we can try to be ourselves.
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"Before, I felt: 'Are you sure Pep, are we ready to do it?' Now the whole organisation believes we can do it. This is the best legacy that we give to the club and to the team that Man City can compete. That is so good."
Man City were forced to play out a goalless draw against Copenhagen in their last visit to Denmark in October 2022, and Guardiola is expecting another tricky test on Tuesday, even though Jacob Neestrup's have not played a competitive game since December 12 due to the Danish winter break.
"I have been here with the national team against Denmark and it is so tough," said Guardiola. "The crowd are so close and imagine two months without games, the crowd will want to be at the football.
"I have huge respect. I said to the players this morning you have to prepare mentally and be ready to suffer. It will be a tight, tight game 100% - I feel it - and normally my guts don't lie to me!"
Discussing the challenges of last-16 ties in the Champions League, the Catalan boss added: "My experience tells me this. The exception was Sporting [Lisbon] two years ago when we won 5-0 – but we scored five goals from six chances. But always I have huge respect for their first leg in the last 16 – always."
Man City have not lost a Champions League game away from the Etihad Stadium since May 2022, but they enter Wednesday's contest having never won a European match in Denmark before – drawing twice with Copenhagen in the Champions League (2022) and UEFA Cup (2009), and losing to Aalborg in the UEFA Cup (2009).
Oliver Thomas
