Stephen Dunmoye
Manchester City’s chief Ferran Soriano has insisted the Premier League remains the club’s “bread and butter”, while the Champions League is an aspiration and not an obsession, despite increasing pressure to win the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s side have come close to finally getting their hands on club football’s biggest prize in recent years, but a number of near-misses and stunning capitulations has prolonged their chances.
Last term saw the Premier League champions surrender a handsome lead to eventual winners Real Madrid over the course of 15 minutes across the tail-end of normal time and beginning of extra-time.
Despite this, Soriano has explained how the club does not feel under any added pressure to lift the Champions League; though he remains certain that they would win it one day.
When asked whether the competition was the club’s priority, Soriano claimed: ” No, it’s never. Our priority is always the Premier League, we work for it everyday, it is our bread and butter. The Champions League of course is an aspiration, but it’s not an obsession, but we will win it, I am sure.”
His comments come six months after Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to send a subtle shot in the direction of title rivals City. The Reds right-back discussed how Guardiola’s side have been unable to properly compete on multiple fronts in recent seasons.
“Not making any digs, but you look at Man City’s amazing team and they haven’t been able to lift the Champions League. They won a couple of Prems but haven’t been able to win the Champions League. We’ve won both over the last few years and it shows we can do it in both competitions.”