Wednesday 17 September 2014 19:03, UK
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has stressed the importance of finishing top of the pile in their UEFA Champions League group.
City open their Group E campaign in Germany on Wednesday when they take on Bayern Munich and they will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season.
They finished second behind Bayern in the group stage in 2013/14 due to having a slightly inferior head-to-head record after they both accumulated 15 points.
City lost 3-1 to the 2013 champions at the Etihad before winning 3-2 at the Allianz Arena in the reverse fixture.
As a result of failing to win the group, Manuel Pellegrini’s side were drawn against Barcelona in the last 16 and they bowed out at that stage after losing 4-1 on aggregate.
Kompany said: "We know how much damage it can cause your hopes if you don't win the group. We always face difficult teams if we are not seeded but we were very close last year."
The Belgium international is relishing another showdown with the German champions and added: "Every single time you come here is an opportunity to prove yourself.
"We now take it as a challenge against one of the top three clubs in the world. It is one of hardest places to come to.
"It's time to start making these games close and making up the gap between ourselves and the other top clubs."
Kompany is well aware that expectations are rising as City go in search of their first Champions League success.
We know how much damage it can cause your hopes if you don't win the group. We always face difficult teams if we are not seeded but we were very close last year.
The 28-year-old said: "You start a season at Manchester City nowadays and it's not acceptable not to put all the trophies on your ambitions list.
"It's a case of me and all the players looking at all the trophies and thinking we have to go until the very end of the season.
"I mean, the club is asking us to win now, so that's one thing.
"We have come so far in the last four years, we have been successful, but you always want to take it a step further.
"Let's take it in context - we are not favourites by any means for this competition but we would like to compete and challenge.
"My experience of the Champions League is that it's not more difficult to go to the end - but everything has to be perfect. The Premier League is just a ferocious battle to the end.
"Eventually it will happen our way."
Watch Bayern Munich v Manchester City live on Sky Sports 5 at 7.45pm on Wednesday.
