‘That’s our main objective’ – Ederson explains Man City’s motivation for winning the Champions League

Manchester City have their sights firmly set on winning their first Champions League trophy, goalkeeper Ederson said ahead of their last-16 encounter at RB Leipzig on Wednesday, adding that the elusive trophy is “what the club needs”.

City have never won Europe’s elite club competition and were knocked out by eventual champions Real Madrid in the semi-finals last season, having lost the final to Chelsea in 2021.

City travel to RB Leipzig on Wednesday for their last-16 first-leg tie, hoping to reach the quarter-finals for the sixth year in succession. Pep Guardiola’s side are hoping to go one better this season and win their first European Cup.

When asked about City’s desire to win the Champions League, Ederson told Uefa’s website, “that’s our main objective, the main objective of the club. “We’ve been trying (to win it) and will carry on trying,” the Brazilian goalkeeper added.

“This year, we’re more than capable of getting to the final and challenging for the title. Of course, football doesn’t always go the way we want it to, but we’re going to try again.”

“We’re coming after it. I think we’re a group of great quality and that shows how much the club has developed over the last five or six years, with Premier League titles, Carabao Cups, FA Cups, Community Shields. So, this title is what the club needs, it’s what we athletes need and it’s what Guardiola needs here at the club, too. This year, we’re going to try. We’re going after it.”

Outlining his personal goals, Ederson says winning the Champions League is one of the only objectives remaining in his career.

“My objective was always that: to play in the Champions League, to play at a big club and to win competitions, to challenge for a World Cup,” he explained.

“So, I’ve always worked with objectives. ‘I will play in the Champions League; I will play in the Premier League; I will play in the World Cup’. I always put it as an objective, because I already achieved my dream of becoming a professional footballer – I achieved that. From that moment, I started to set goals in my career and, thank God, I’ve managed to hit these goals.

“One of the goals I have set for myself is to win the Champions League. That’s what’s missing and I want to be able to achieve this objective. I’m willing to always work hard, I always give it my all. So, this year, I want to achieve my objective, by any means necessary.”

City faced Leipzig in the group stage of the last edition of the Champions League, with Ederson saying the Premier League champions were well aware of the threats posed by their German opponents.

“Last season we played against them in the group stage. They’re a good team, with good players, so we have to be prepared. I hope we’ll be able to play well, but it won’t be easy because the Champions League doesn’t have easy games,” Ederson added.

“I’m expecting a challenge, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to play well and get a good result in the first leg and to carry on with that afterwards.”