Monday’s draw pitted us against RB Leipzig, with City playing away from home at the Red Bull Arena in the first leg before welcoming the Bundesliga outfit to the Etihad Stadium for the return game.
City head into the knockout stage this season with memories of reaching the semi-final in 2021/22 and the final in 2020/21.
Begiristain says there’s determination to go far this term, too.
He said: “Expectations are always high. Ourselves, we are demanding a lot about ourselves. So we know we have to try.
“We have been now in a final, in another semi-final, we want to be there.
“But, again, it has to be step by step. But we are happy with the team, as of course with Pep and his staff.
“They are doing very well. The squad is doing well. Let’s see what happens now.”
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Of course, before we can turn our attentions to the esteemed European competition, there’s a World Cup for a host of our players to compete in.
The World Cup takes place 20 November to 18 December while the Champions League campaign restarts in February.
Our first leg will be played away at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday 22 February before the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 14 March.
Begiristain is hopeful of boss Pep Guardiola having a fit squad to call upon when the players return from Qatar.
He added: “It’s the World Cup now coming and let’s see how the players are [when they’re] back.
“We have to wait a bit but we are confident that in February we are going to be back all good.”
Hear Txiki’s thoughts in full via the video above…
