Tuesday 18 September 2018 15:46, UK
Mikel Arteta says he thinks Manchester City have the best players in the world, ahead of their latest bid for Champions League glory.
City begin their Group F campaign against Lyon at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday - and Arteta will be directing affairs from the bench as manager Pep Guardiola serves a touchline ban.
City romped to Premier League glory last season and have made another strong start to the season and assistant coach Arteta thinks they are well equipped for another successful season.
"For me we have the best players in the world and I look at our players as if they are the best," said the Spaniard.
"I wouldn't change my players for any others. They are absolutely fantastic, the hunger in this group is incredible.
"People talk about money to spend but people have to look inside this club, what we have created, it's phenomenal."
Real Madrid have won the Champions League in four of the last five seasons - and are looking for a fourth success in a row this term.
No club from outside Spain has prevailed in Europe since Bayern Munich in 2013, but it is City who are favourites with the bookmakers to lift the trophy this time.
Asked about City's favourites tag, Arteta said: "I am surprised, when you have a team who has won it three times in a row.
"But it means we are doing things really well and people are seriously thinking that we are candidates to compete against all the teams in Europe.
"It has to be a motivation, not a pressure. That is the way we take it and hopefully we can improve on what we did in the last two seasons because we came short."
