Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne said winning the Champions League is both a dream and an obsession for Manchester City. City are looking to win the competition for the first time, and complete the treble, when they face Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on Saturday.
Guardiola's team have dominated English football over the past few seasons but European glory has eluded them. City are huge favourites to become just the second side to do the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season after Manchester United.
De Bruyne was asked first if he felt victory was a dream or an obsession. "Maybe both. It depends who you ask. Every professional player wants to win the Champions League and be on top," the Belgium international was quoted as saying by the Press Association. "If you can win the Champions League, you've reached one of the biggest things you can." Guardiola would be a bit more eager to clinch the trophy missing from City's cabinet.
The Catalan, who guided Barcelona to victory in the competition twice, has taken City into the knockout stages seven times but their runner-up finish in 2021 is the closest they have come to success. "Absolutely it's a dream," he said. "To achieve things you have to have correct portion of obsession and desire, it's a positive word, and willingness to try to do it, but of course it's a dream." "It is a day to celebrate.