Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola admit winning Champions League is Manchester City dream

<p>Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne admit winning the Champions League has become both a dream and an obsession for Manchester City.</p>

<p>City stand on the brink of glory as they prepare to face Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on Saturday.</p>

<p>Guardiola's side are strong favourites for a game that could not only see them crowned European champions for the first time but complete the treble.</p>

<p>The Premier League winners are hoping to put years of frustration behind them after several near misses in their pursuit of the prize they covet most.</p>

<p>De Bruyne gave his feelings on the matter when he was asked if victory was a "dream" or an "obsession" as City held a pre-match press conference at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Friday.</p>

<p>"Maybe both, it depends who you ask," said the Belgium playmaker. "Every professional player wants to win the Champions League and be on top.</p>

<p>"If you can win the Champions League, you've reached one of the biggest things you can."</p>

<p>"To compete every year is amazing, and I've been able to compete against the best, but we've got a chance to close that if we are good enough."</p>

<p>City have reached the knockout stages of the tournament in each of Guardiola's seven seasons as manager but they are yet to fulfil their ambition.</p>

<p>Their runners-up finish two seasons ago, when they were beaten by Chelsea in the final, is the closest they have come.</p>

<p>Guardiola, who won the competition twice as Barcelona boss, said: "It's absolutely a dream, yes.</p>

<p>"To achieve things you always have to have the correct proportion of obsession and desire.</p>

<p>"It's a positive word for the desire and will to win it. It is of course a dream for us."</p>

<p>City's outstanding season has been fuelled by the goalscoring of Erling Haaland.</p>

<p>The prolific Norwegian has netted 52 goals in an outstanding first campaign at the Etihad Stadium.</p>

<p>Haaland admitted this week has was brought to City to win the Champions League and Guardiola - whose two previous successes came in tandem with Lionel Messi at Barcelona - hopes he proves the final piece of the jigsaw.</p>

<p>Asked what he would advise managers hoping to emulate his achievements, Guardiola said: "Have good players - have Messi, have Haaland. This is my success. I'm not joking.</p>

<p>"Every manager who has had success has had strong institutions and exceptional players. I've never scored a goal as a manager."</p>

<p>Haaland actually goes into the game having scored just once in his last seven outings but this is not a concern for Guardiola.</p>

<p>"I don't have doubts," he said. "If you have doubts about Erling scoring you are a very lonely person.</p>

<p>"Tomorrow he will be ready to help us win the Champions League."</p>

<p>Haaland has formed a potent attacking partnership with De Bruyne.</p>

<p>De Bruyne was cheekily asked at the press conference if it had been "love at first sight" between the pair.</p>

<p>De Bruyne said: "No. I'm happy with my wife!"</p>

<p>Elaborating more, he added: "You have a feeling with a player and I understand what he wants. It clicked really well. He's scored at an incredible rate and settled really easily."</p>

<p>De Bruyne has been chasing Champions League success with City since 2015.</p>

<p>He said: "We have been consistent, we have been good enough, but we need to find a way to win the first one. It would be immense for the club and the fans, something amazing."</p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/kevin-bruyne-and-pep-guardiola-admit-winning-champions-league-is-manchester-city-dream">Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola admit winning Champions League is Manchester City dream </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>