Txiki Begiristain: “Now, of course, we want to progress and be one of the biggest in Europe.”

Txiki Begiristain is pleased. The City executive has praised City’s progress into the last-16 of the Champions League.

Let’s hear from the man himself-

“You know how difficult it is to get there and you can see other clubs who are here in this draw, they suffered to get there,” said the City director of football.

“They had to wait until the last day or the last minutes. So, we were there qualified at the top of the group before the last game. That is an achievement.

“Now, of course, we want to progress and be one of the biggest in Europe. We want to go through.

“It’s becoming very difficult this competition. You can see the group phase, new clubs coming, everyone getting stronger and it’s getting more difficult to be there (in the knock-out phase).”

“The top teams in Germany play that box-to-box game, they are attacking football, quite open games – so we like open games.

“We have to be better than them in both boxes – you have to be good at defending and attacking.

“But I like to play against German clubs because the football we can give to the spectators and people in their homes is going to be great.”

“You have to highlight the coach at the head of it, Marco Rose. He is one of the top coaches and is loved by a lot of clubs in Europe. He is playing good football.

“Marcus Thuram, Denis Zakaria now is back, Ramy Bensebaini, Yann Sommer the goalkeeper – they have a good squad.

“I have to remind everyone I remember when we play away in the second game of group phase under Manuel Pellegrini when in the first half they had five one v ones against Joe Hart – Joe Hart was incredible that game – and then we won in the last minutes with the penalty of Kun [Aguero].

“And then also in the first season of Pep it was 1-1- and we suffered a lot.

“But we are talking about three, four years ago. If I talk about what I watch recently of Borussia Monchengladbach, I want to remind everyone what happened in Monchengladbach when they play against Real Madrid.

“They were 2-0 up, Madrid with zero points after two games, and Madrid scored two goals late on.

“So a very strong team, wonderful football and it’s going to be really difficult.”

Interesting words from our executive. It will sure be a great match with Gladbach. Hopefully, it is the beginning of a great campaign.