Manchester City ‘deserve’ to win Champions League: Joao Cancelo
Joao Cancelo believes Manchester City deserve to win the Champions League, saying the team are “embracing” the pressure of trying to go one step further than last season, when they lost to Chelsea in the final.
The Premier League leaders have dominated English football under Pep Guardiola, winning three league titles in four years, but success in Europe has proved elusive.
Portugal defender Cancelo, speaking ahead of the first leg of City’s last-16 tie away to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, said the club, who lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, had the quality to lift the trophy.
Sights set on Sporting! 👀🔜#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/kjagJwjEAI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 14, 2022
“We are a very strong team,” he said. “The players know how to deal with the pressure of getting to the final but we are going up against the best teams in Europe.
“It is very difficult but we embrace this pressure. This club deserves to win the Champions League. That is what we play for and that is what we are trying to do this season.”
"This club deserves to win the Champions League." 🏆
Is it finally Man City's year? João Cancelo certainly thinks it could be! 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/Ki3VMxYjmv
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 14, 2022
Cancelo, 27, has been outstanding for City this season, operating on either the right or left of defence, and recently signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2027.