Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 10y

Samir Nasri challenges City to make Champions League impact

Samir Nasri believes it is time for Manchester City to expand their horizons and make their mark in Europe.

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The Frenchman, who has lifted the Premier League trophy twice in his City career, pointed out that the champions have have won every domestic honour at some point in the past four years.

But their first two Champions League campaigns ended in group-stage exits, and they went out in the round of 16 last season.

Now they are preparing to begin their latest campaign against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, with Roma and CSKA Moscow also in their group.

Nasri told City's programme: "We have won the Premier League twice in three years and finished second as well. We have won the FA Cup, Community Shield and the Capital One Cup, so we've won everything we can in England.

"Now it's time to see the bigger picture and make an impact in the Champions League because we have to players to do it and know we are capable of it."

The midfielder said he believed the form and fitness of key players would be crucial, adding: "You need luck along the way. It depends on the form of each player in February when the round of 16 begins.

"Last season we were flying in the group stages, but when we faced Barcelona in the round-of-16 tie I was injured, Kun [Sergio Aguero] wasn't fully fit and Fernandinho had just returned.

"You need luck, you need to be flying and you need the rub of the green, either during games or in the draw itself."

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