Mancini targets knockout phase

Manager Roberto Mancini said Manchester City need to take the next step in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Having failed to advance past the group stage in last season’s competition, Mancini believes ‘it is important’ Manchester City improve in the upcoming edition of the tournament, which starts on Tuesday.

Manchester City’s first challenge will be a trip to play Real Madrid as part of Group D, which also includes Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam, and while Mancini accepts it will be ‘difficult’ he remains committed to a better performance this season.

“I think it was a good experience last year, we did a good group but it was not enough,” Mancini said.

“I think the group will be stronger this year but it will be difficult for all the teams.

“I think it is important now that we go to the second stage.

“After February anything can happen but now it is difficult to say what we can do.”

Group D includes the champions of England, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, with Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam the representatives of the latter two countries.

It will be a huge test for Manchester City in only their second Champions League campaign.

Mancini seems to be relishing the prospect, however, and he is confident the club from the blue half of Manchester will one day lift the Champions League trophy because of the quality of players in the team.

“If you drive a Ferrari you can win, if you drive a Fiat Cinquecento, probably not,” Mancini said.

“In the past we have been working (towards winning the Champions League) I think we beat good teams but we have played together for two years and we needed time.

“I am sure we will arrive to win this trophy in the future, I do not know when but I am sure because we are working for this.”

Manchester City head to Madrid hopeful of capitalising on the home side’s poor start the season with Real having only won one league match so far.

But Real’s manager Jose Mourinho has warned the visitors to expect his ‘best’ side.

“I’m sure we’ll be at our best, I could be wrong but that’s what I think,” Mourinho said.

“The lineup will not be very different (from their 1-0 defeat to Sevilla), nor will I try to show any player that they are not in the best condition.

“It will be the best that I consider to play against an opposition full of players of the highest level.”