Pep: 'No one thinks we can be champions'

GUARDIOLA OUT TO PROVE EUROPEAN DOUBTERS WRONG

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

PEP Guardiola wants City to show immediate improvement in the Champions League to confound expectations.

The Blues are fighting to show they are capable of winning trophies again after their first season without silverware in eight years. The club have spent more than £350m to rebuild the squad and are intent on making their mark in the Premier League and Champions League.

Last season was especially galling for the Blues in Europe, with the 2023 winners not even making the knockout rounds after finishing 22nd in the new-look group format and being knocked out in the playoffs by Real Madrid. They suffered tough defeats to Sporting and Juventus and threw away a three-goal lead at home to Feyenoord.