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Riyad Mahrez claims CL quarter-final exit was "biggest disappointment" of career

Riyad Mahrez claims CL quarter-final exit was
© Reuters
City were stunned by Lyon in last season's Champions League.

Riyad Mahrez believes Manchester City are being spurred on by a determination to make up for last year's Champions League disappointment.

City surrendered an excellent opportunity to win the competition for the first time in 2020 as they crashed out to Lyon in a one-off quarter-final in Lisbon.

They have bounced back impressively this term to reach the semi-finals for the first time in five years and on Wednesday they face Paris St Germain at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their last-four tie.

"I think last season was the biggest disappointment of my career, not going through to the semi-finals," said winger Mahrez.

"But it helped us a lot this season because we were so, so determined to go through. This year we had those experiences and I think we were much better.

"The Champions League is the thing we're missing. I don't think anyone in our team has won it before. In Europe it's the best thing you can play for and win."

Mahrez excelled as City won the Carabao Cup on Sunday
Mahrez excelled as City won the Carabao Cup on Sunday (Adam Davy/PA)

Mahrez, who was born and grew up in Paris, is in fine form and was named man of the match in Sunday's Carabao Cup final win over Tottenham.

He said: "I don't know if it is the best since I have been here but I think I'm good in the most important moment of the season.

"Of course, as a boy you dream about these stages, semi-finals and finals of the Champions League. We have to step up and play as we play in Premier League or did in the final of the Carabao Cup."

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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Tuesday, July 2
 
8pm
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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