Man City players’ compelling argument for rejecting European Super League

Manchester City players were against the European Super League as they wanted follow in the footsteps of their footballing heroes in the Champions League.

City's stars and manager found out about the ill-fated ESL at the same time it was announced to fans and over the following days they went public with their frustration.

Boss Pep Guardiola pulled no punches in an interview before City's Premier League match against Aston Villa, saying the situation was "uncomfortable for managers" and that "it is not sport where success is already guaranteed".

Players, including Raheem Sterling, retweeted posts from City's own account that documented Guardiola's quotes and star Kevin De Bruyne tweeted emphasising the importance of competition.

De Bruyne had looked up to Liverpool star Michael Owen in the European competition, while Sterling idolised Barcelona's Ronaldinho and Ferran Torres wanted to emulate City's David Silva.

City will play in their first Champions League match since the ESL news as they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night.

Winger Riyad Mahrez has said these are the games players want to be a part of when they're young.

Mahrez said: "As a boy, you dream about these stages, the semi-finals of the Champions League, a final, the quarter-finals.

"You play football for these type of games at these type of stages. I knew when I signed for this team, this club, this manager, we'd arrive at this stage."

The 30-year-old signed for City from Leicester City in 2018 specifically so he could get his hands on the European trophy.

Mahrez isn't the only person at City who are desperate to win as the club have never lifted the trophy.

Guardiola has remarked that all of his efforts at the Sky Blues would be forgotten if he did not take City to Champions League glory.

While the manager has pressure on him to reach the final, ahead of the match he spoke about embracing the heat he is facing.

He told reporters: “I learned from Johan Cruyff: when you arrive at these stages there is only one thing you can do and that is enjoy the game.

"Enjoy the responsibility and the pressure. Enjoy the fact that you have not lived more of these situations. That is elite.”

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