Wright-Phillips tips Man City to end Champions League drought

MUMBAI : Former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is confident the club can add an elusive Champions League trophy to their cabinet this season despite their "demanding" Premier League title defence.

City, bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi United Group, have been dominant in the last decade when it comes to domestic success but are still bidding to win European club football's most prestigious trophy for the first time.

Pep Guardiola's side came closest to ending the quest when they reached the final last year only to be defeated 1-0 by English rivals Chelsea in Porto.

In this season's Champions League, City have reached the semi-finals where they will meet Spain's record 13-times champions Real Madrid later this month.

"I think that they've got everything going the way they want it to go at the minute," former England international Wright-Phillips, who spent two spells at City, told Reuters. "You can see what they're capable of.

"But it's just those little fine margins and the players know that. I think a lot of people forget (that) they did get to the final the last time. I don't think there was anybody in that squad apart from Pep that ever experienced anything like that.

"And now that they know they can get there, they know they can win it as well. So it's just the next step really."

City lead Liverpool by a point at the top of the Premier League after an enthralling 2-2 clash last week with both teams having seven matches left to play in the campaign.

CITY MOMENTUM

"I think if they keep winning in the Premier League it just builds up momentum and confidence running into the Champions League," Wright-Phillips, the stepson of former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, said on the sidelines of DreamSetGo's Manchester