The former City defender - who played a key role in the early stages of the club’s Champions League journey - feels previous expereince within the competition over the past ten years has helped Pep Guardiola‘s side reach the Champions League final for the very first time this campaign.
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“You see it with the lads now how domestically they dominate but it can be different in the Champions League.
“The level of player is the same but experience counts for a lot more and now we are on that same level.”
Ahead of the eagerly-anticipated final against Chelsea this weekend, Lescott looked back at his, and City’s first Champions League experience in 2011 and spoke of his memories on that special night against Napoli, nearly a decade ago.
“At the start of the Champions League I think we played Napoli in the first game.
“I remember all the lads that had played in the Champions League saying when you hear that music [you realise the big occassion] and I said yeah, yeah!”
“Then when I got out there and I heard it I looked over to the bench and said wow, it’s nice that! It’s a nice feeling!”
Looking back at his Champions League debut, the former centre-back realised quickly that European competition was a huge step up for himself and his City teammates.
“I remember the movement and thinking they were a little bit sharper than us. It’s a different level because it is made up of all the internationals.”
As well as reminiscing about the club’s first taste of Champions League action, Lescott also looked back on the journey the club had taken throughout the competition, going from European novices, to competition finalists.
“We were in pot four, it was a different format back then [2011].
“So when we were getting in the Champions League we were pot four, and the team everyone wanted to face because we had minimal experience and the club had no experience.
“We only had a few players who had played there but now the lads are in pot one and not too concerned about getting out of our group.”
