Buy your Man City special pull-out ahead of Champions League battle

One of Pep Guardiola's proudest records at Manchester City is in the Champions League.

Winning the trophy (finally) in Istanbul in 2023 released an outpouring of emotion from Guardiola and his players. "We did it," he cried into Kevin De Bruyne's shoulder on the pitch at full-time, with players and staff running all around him.

That came after so many near-misses. Some self-inflicted, some heartbreaking, but all part of the learning curve. Three semi-final appearances in the last four years and a quarter-final exit on penalties last season have City boasting consistency in Europe that others can only dream of.

It is that consistency that Guardiola is most proud of. Getting to the final stages puts City in with the chance to win the biggest trophy of them all. Anything can happen after that.

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Guardiola has perhaps one more chance to turn one Champions League title into two. His current contract is up after the 2025 final in Munich and he will be desperate to sign off as the best in Europe. Realistically, only the 'superclasico' rivalry with Real Madrid stands in his way.

There are the Premier League charges, too - who knows what will happen with City in the next 12 months. De Bruyne is potentially nearing the end of his City career, while the new-look format could complicate the route to the final that City have perfected.

In preparation for the all-new Champions League season, MEN Sport have put together a bumper print special celebrating City's history in Europe, with features on their key men, each opponent they will face, and what the