Pep Guardiola makes Man City declaration as Arsenal Champions League path becomes clearer

Pep Guardiola reckons Manchester City are playing like a side who are well-equipped to defend their Champions League title. Guardiola praised his squad following their entry into the quarter-finals of this competition after a decisive win over FC Copenhagen, with Arsenal hoping to join their Premier League counterparts in the next round.

Wednesday's match at Etihad Stadium City effortlessly bag a 3-1 victory in the second leg of their last-16 tie, rounding off an impressive 6-2 aggregate triumph. With optimism, Guardiola said: «We are a team that believes we can do it. Listen, we're competing with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but the important thing is that seven years in a row we are here. Consistency.»

Arsenal host Porto next Tuesday in the second leg of their last-16 clash with Mikel Arteta's side trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Portugal after Galeno's stoppage-time winner for the hosts. City's victory means they could face Arsenal in the quarter-final if the Gunners make it through, with PSG, Bayern and Real having also secured their place in the draw.

Guardiola, who led City to the treble last season, added: «I felt the people when we arrived from a club like Barcelona and Bayern Munich where they demand to always be there I felt the club, not the players, didn't feel it. We are here because we needed time.

»People, managers don't get time, hierarchies don't get time. But they gave us time to lose against Monaco, lose against Liverpool, lose against Tottenham all (part of) the process to do it, because when a team comes from never ever being in that position, you cannot do it.

«It is easy for clubs that have big history start with the best ones, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Man United they