City star bids to join the elite

Ilkay Gundogan says Manchester City have to win the Champions League if they are to be ranked among Europe’s elite clubs.

Manchester City are rated as the 3.75 favourites to win the Champions League this season, Barcelona are 6.00, holders Real Madrid can be backed at 10.00 and Bayern Munich are 15.00.

Pep Guardiola’s men won the Premier League at a canter last season as they finished with 100 points – 19 clear of nearest rivals Manchester United.

However, City fell at the last eight in the Champions League and have never progressed beyond the semi-finals – and Gundogan feels they need to make their mark in Europe to be considered a truly great team.

“If you want to be in the international elite … you need to clinch this trophy,” Gundogan told UEFA.com.

“I think that, if we were to win it someday, the club would enter a new era, the same level as Real, Barca, Bayern or Juventus, clubs that are maybe a step above us. Maybe not in the way they play football, but as a club at least.”

City head to Schalke for the first leg of their last 16 tie on Wednesday and are 1.22 to come out on top or 2.60 with a -2 handicap. The Bundesliga club are 11.00 to claim a win and a draw can be backed at 6.50.