TIME FOR A BLUE MOON RISING

Pep admits that City must find a true winning mentality: Big clubs like Real Madrid lift the trophy, take a shower and then think about winning again. It is a culture we are now learning

- DAVID MCDONNELL

PEP GUARDIOLA wants Manchester City to emulate tonight's opponents Real Madrid by becoming serial winners on Europe's biggest stage.

Guardiola has frequently described Real as “kings” of the competition - with good reason.

They have lifted the trophy 13 times and reached 16 finals, while City have made it there just once, losing 1-0 to Chelsea last season (Foden and Aguero, below).

If Real are the kings then City are the young princes, desperate to take the throne.

And Guardiola knows if this season they are to finally win the Champions League, they must develop a mindset like Real's, where success is viewed as a formality.

“At the big clubs, when you win, take a shower and at that moment you're thinking of winning again, said the Etihad boss ahead of tonight's visit of the Spanish club for the first leg of their semi-final.

“That's why the big clubs stay there for a long time. It's a culture and we're learning that.