City face Real Madrid in the 2022/23 semi-final with the first leg taking place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday at 20:00 (UK), with the return fixture in Manchester on Wednesday next week.
The two teams met at the same stage of the competition last season, with Real prevailing 6-5 on aggregate in an all-time Champions League classic as they went on to win the trophy for the 14th time in their history.
It was a tough defeat for City, who played superbly over the two matches, but Guardiola says that’s ‘in the past’ as he eyes progress this term and a chance for the sky blues to lift the famous trophy for the first time.
“We arrived here last season with encouragement to get to the final,” said Guardiola.
“We played really good in both games. But it was not enough.
REAL MADRID V CITY | TV INFO, FORM GUIDE, SQUAD NEWS
“But what happened in the past is the past. We are not here for revenge. It’s just another opportunity.
“As much as we are here, one day we will get it. One day we will reach the final and we will win it. We come here to do this this season.
“Last season we also came here to reach the final and win it. But it didn’t happen because we played against Real Madrid and in this competition they know exactly what they have to do.
“As much as we play against them or the other top teams in Europe, much closer we will be.”
It’s our third-successive semi-final appearance, with our run to the 2021 final, where we lost 1-0 to Chelsea in Porto, remains our best performance.
It’s a superb recent record that very few sides can match, and Guardiola says our consistency makes him proud.
“I would say, seven years ago when I arrived we wanted to win the Champions League, definitely,” he said. “And the year after. And the year after. So we want it, definitely.
“But the same last season, not changed much because of what happened or the final we lost against Chelsea two seasons ago.
“We want it. Last season it was the end of the world and here we are again.
“I would not like to have a team that won the Champions League one day and then after stay ten years without playing the Champions League or go down, down and down.
“There are clubs in Europe who invest just to win the Champions League and after that they don’t win the Champions League and the leagues and then they go down and down.
“Being stable is the most important thing. Madrid, for example, every season they are there. That is the best - of course they win it - but being there.
“Like Barcelona in the past, all the time was there, or Liverpool, all the time is there. That for me means a club is stable, healthy and when you are quite often here.
“We want it this season, for sure. Like what happened last season. It’s a process. I would love to have won in the past, already.
“What is important is to be stable, getting better every season.”
Real Madrid v City
We will have full coverage of Tuesday’s match right here on the official Man City app.
Our Matchday Centre will be available from 18:00 (UK), providing you with live text updates before, during and after the game.
Our Matchday Live programme will begin shortly before team news arrives at 18:45 (UK).
download the official man city app
Host Natalie Pike will welcome Paul Dickov, Shaun Goater and Steph Houghton into the studio to provide you with a City-centric view on the events in Spain.
During the game, Alistair Mann and Michael Brown will guide you through proceedings with our radio commentary.
Highlights will be available at 23:00 (UK) on Wednesday and CITY+ subscribers can watch a full 90-minute replay from midnight.
And don’t forget, the best way to follow Manchester City is by downloading our official app!
And when you do, turn on notifications to get alerted as to when our Matchday Live show starts.
Download on your mobile phone or tablet via Apple’s App Store or Google Play store, or, if you already have the app, then simply visit the stores and update.
