Manchester City midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan, has said that Pep Guardiola’s side are not in the same level as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Juventus.
Gundogan stated this ahead of Man City’s Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie with Schalke on Wednesday night.
The 28-year-old believes Manchester City must win the Champions League to be considered one of Europe’s elite clubs.
“If you want to be in the international elite … you need to clinch the Champions League trophy,” Gundogan told UEFA’s official website
“I think that, if we were to win it someday, the club would enter a new era, the same level as Real (Madrid), 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.”
Gundogan added: “We’ve experienced a lot in the Champions League in recent years, not all of it positive, of course. We should’ve won it at least once.
“The biggest low was probably being knocked out by Liverpool last season. For that reason, the motivation to go far in this competition is huge and I think we have the quality required.”
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