Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev - Joe Hart eyeing Champions League glory

Posted Tuesday, March 15, 2016 by PA

Joe Hart believes Manchester City are capable of winning the Champions League.

City are hoping to secure a place in the quarter-finals for the first time as they host Dynamo Kiev in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday holding a 3-1 aggregate lead.

England goalkeeper Hart said: "It's going to be difficult. It's a really difficult tournament, but we've got to believe we can win it - otherwise there's no point in turning up.

"You could look at it as pressure, but it's something really exciting. I can only speak for myself, but it's really exciting being in this situation, going into the last-16 game with a good option of going through, doing something I haven't done before and creating history for this club."

City have made steady progress in the Champions League since first entering the competition in 2011. After group-stage exits in their first two seasons, they were knocked out by Barcelona in the first knockout round in 2014 and 2015.

Bettering that this time will continue the upward trajectory and further enhance the club's name on the European stage.

Hart said: "You've got to do well in Europe to get that label. We're fighting on a personal basis, a team basis. We've worked hard, we've been together a long time now and we need to improve, because it's a short career and we have to take advantage of the opportunities we've got at this club."

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has warned against complacency and intends to field his strongest side to ensure progress is secured.

Pellegrini, who will have Yaya Toure available again after a heel injury, said: "I think the most important thing is to know that we are not already qualified for the next stage, so tomorrow we must be focused in our game, we must be concentrated. We play against a big team that knows how to play this kind of games.

"We are not going to play with the score that we had in Kiev, we are going to play starting 0-0 and trying to be a better team here at home.

"Tomorrow we put out our strongest squad that we need to win the game."

Dynamo Kiev coach Sergei Rebrov believes his team can still reach the Champions League quarter-finals at City's expense.

The former Tottenham and West Ham striker Rebrov said: "We do not have many chances but I do think we have some chances. If the players do not feel nervous, if they are relaxed, they will create some chances.

"I think tomorrow the team will fight for the result, irrespective of the score in the first leg.

"We have to concentrate, work very hard, be strong and be a team. They have lots of good players but we must be a team and that's the most important thing."

Kiev face a City team who have been inconsistent throughout the season. Their recent form has been particularly patchy, with the win in Ukraine three weeks ago and a 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa the exceptions.

They did win the Capital One Cup, but only after a penalty shoot-out against Liverpool, and there have been four defeats in their last eight games in all competitions.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference in Manchester, Rebrov said: "I have followed City's games.

"They won on penalties against Liverpool, they won 4-0 against Aston Villa and drew 0-0 with Norwich. In those games, they demonstrated quality football. They play very good opponents and that's why this league is considered the best.

"This Norwich match showed it's difficult - they did not play that badly, Norwich just defended very well."

Striker Andriy Yarmolenko insisted Dynamo would fight to the end.

He said: "After we lost the first game 3-1, of course we don't have too many chances to proceed but we are optimistic and we are prepared to show good football which the supporters will like.

"If we manage to proceed, or if we can't, we will try to show quality football."