Sergio Aguero does not think Manchester City were good enough to win the Champions League this season but believes that could change under new manager Pep Guardiola.
City reached the semifinals for the first time in the club's history this season before losing out to Real Madrid. A last-four spot represented progress for Manuel Pellegrini's side, who had failed to get beyond the round of 16 in their four previous Champions League campaigns.
They knocked out French champions Paris Saint-Germain on the way to the semis but Aguero says that City weren't at the level of the top teams in Europe.
"We knew we had a great team but not good enough to earn [a win in the] semifinals," he told reporters. "We played OK in the Champions League with exceptions like Kevin [De Bruyne] who scored that [winning] goal against PSG.
"But we didn't earn the classification and we knew it was an important step to make it to the semifinals to get an idea of what we will experience next year.
"City is a great team but not up to the level of winning the Champions League."
Guardiola takes over this summer and, despite not winning the Champions League in his three seasons at Bayern Munich, Aguero expects the new manager to mastermind a challenge in Europe next season.
The 27-year-old striker says close friend Lionel Messi, who worked under Guardiola at Barcelona, has told him that he is a very impressive coach.
"There is a reason that the club invests in important players and then a coach is very important," he added. "We hope that Pep adapts to the club and decides how we are going to play. But it is fundamental that next year we advance a bit more.
"Leo has told me he is very impressive and other players with whom I have spoken have said the same. I don't know him personally so we'll see after Copa America [with Argentina] what is going to happen. I will get to know him and he will push us all.
"I think he is a coach who will put a lot of pressure on the players and we need that, so yes. I think the arrival of him not just for me but for other players will be important for club."
Aguero also praised Guardiola's predecessor Pellegrini, who has guided City to a Premier League title and two Capital One Cup victories over the last three years.
"They have been three very good years," said the former Atletico Madrid striker. "This year we didn't advance in the Champions League but those things happen.
"I won a Premier League title with him, the balance of winnings was very good for me, he put his trust in me and for that I will always be grateful."