Vincent Kompany feels Manchester City can no longer hide behind the tag of being Champions League newboys and the time has come for the Premier League champions to become genuine contenders.
After three campaigns spent acquiring experience in the competition – last season reaching the last 16 for the first time – City will open their latest challenge against one of Europe’s giants in Bayern Munich, and the captain reckons they belong in such company.
City have actually grown familiar with Bayern, having been drawn in the same group in 2011/12 and last term, but Kompany is relishing the latest tussle.
He said: “Every single time you come here is an opportunity to prove yourself. We now take it as a challenge against one of the top three clubs in the world. It is one of hardest places to come to.
“It’s time to start making these games close and making up the gap between ourselves and the other top clubs.”
With two Premier League titles in the past three seasons, City’s development is continuing apace.
Establishing themselves at Europe’s top table is now the next target and Kompany is well aware that expectations at the club are rising.
The 28-year-old said: “You start a season at Manchester City nowadays and it’s not acceptable not to put all the trophies on your ambitions list. It’s a case of me and all the players looking at all the trophies and thinking we have to go until the very end of the season.
“I mean, the club is asking us to win now, so that’s one thing.
“We have come so far in the last four years, we have been successful, but you always want to take it a step further. Let’s take it in context – we are not favourites by any means for this competition but we would like to compete and challenge.”
City’s progress in reaching the knockout stages last season was tempered as they were paired with Barcelona and lost out over two legs to the Catalan giants.
Yet they could have been facing lesser opponents had they managed to score one more goal in their final 3-2 win over Bayern to top their group on goal difference.
With City a developing force, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola believes they are capable of winning the Champions League.
He said: “Manchester City won (here) with Kompany, (Yaya) Toure, (David) Silva, (Edin) Dzeko last year – fantastic players.
“They needed to win here to learn something, to learn they are able to win the Champions League.
“Last season they were able to win the Champions League and this year they are ready to win the Champions League, like eight, nine or 10 teams more who can win this trophy. We would like to be one of those teams.”
