Next month, City will play Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but they have not yet won the competition.
Pep Guardiola understands that in order for his Manchester City team to be considered one of the best, they must not only win the Champions League once, but also multiple times.
The City manager has no qualms about his team's talent, but despite their recent near-dominance of the Premier League, he believes that in order for them to leave a lasting legacy, they must achieve victory in Europe.
After advancing to the final against Inter Milan next month with a decisive victory over the league's defending champion Real Madrid in midweek, City are now heavy favorites to win the Champions League for the first time this season.
"The team is really good, but I agree with the media or when people say you have to lift Europe, and you have to lift it again, to be considered in the same category as 'other' teams," Guardiola remarked.
"Those teams consistently succeed in Europe, not just occasionally. Neither have we.
Since Guardiola took over at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, City has been the dominant power in domestic football, but they have had a string of close calls in the Champions League.
When Chelsea defeated them in the 2021 championship game, that was the closest they had ever come to winning.
"The joy (of winning) is so nice," added Guardiola. It's incredible to be here. If we win the Champions League, nothing will change for us, but if we want to be regarded as one of the best teams, we must do so.
"My opinion won't change, but we have to be there to be in the books -- the real books," the speaker said.
Guardiola has had a significant impact on English football as a whole and raised expectations for performance and playmaking.
Although he has led his team to a spectacular treble this season, he still downplays the size of his own involvement.
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