Pep Guardiola accepts Champions League success is key to recognition for Manchester City ahead of Liverpool showdown

Pep Guardiola accepts Manchester City may need to conquer Europe to earn the wider recognition he feels they deserve.

City face a potentially season-defining six days in the coming week as they do battle with title rivals Liverpool twice either side of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

The first of those games, which sees Liverpool visit the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League today, is attracting the most hype.

Champions City go into the highly-anticipated fixture holding a one-point lead at the top of the table and victory would put them firmly in command in their quest for a fourth title in five years.

Yet for all their domestic supremacy in recent years, City are still to triumph in Europe.

"We feel all together, inside, we will remember this period with big satisfaction for what we have done," said Guardiola, whose side were beaten Champions League finalists last season.

"Sometimes (people say) we have to get the proof from outside to be happy inside. That is stupid. There's no sense in always looking for proof from outside that what you are doing is right.

"But I agree with people that say, 'You didn't win the Champions League' (because) maybe to have this recognition from everyone in the world outside you do have to conquer Europe.

"If it's going to happen I don't know but I think, so far, what we have done here we are incredibly happy with. We did many good things."

City beat Atletico 1-0 in the first leg of their tie on Tuesday and now turn their immediate attention to Liverpool.

They then travel to the Spanish capital on Wednesday before facing Liverpool again in the FA Cup semi-finals next Saturday.

It is an intense spell that could make or break treble-chasing City's season.

Guardi