Pep Guardiola claims some critics will write his Manchester City side off as a failure if they do not win the Champions League.
City have spent more than £500million on players since Guardiola took charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016.
They won the Premier League in some style last season and are again top of the table this term, but Guardiola knows expectations are high.
“For the people who don’t love us too much, who use money as an argument, then we have failed if we don’t win the Champions League,” said Guardiola, whose side continue their latest European campaign at Lyon on Tuesday.
“For the others, especially our fans who say they enjoy watching our games and enjoy what we are doing, I’m pretty sure they won’t have regrets about what these guys have been doing every three days for the last 15 months.
“That is the best compliment, the best success the team can have. But, of course, we want to qualify, continue our level in the Premier League and arrive in the best possible condition with everybody fit to challenge again to go quite far.
“After that, the competition speaks for itself. We can have a lot of desire and wishes but the competition is so tough.”
