Pep Guardiola has set his sights on chasing down Liverpool after securing Champions League qualification.
Manchester City booked their place in the last 16 as group winners after a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
It means the Premier Jeague champions can concentrate on their title defence and eating up the ground on leaders Liverpool.
City have a mountain to climb with Jurgen Klopp’s side nine points clear of them.
Guardiola is desperate to deliver the Champions League to the Etihad at his fourth time of trying - but made it clear where his priorities lie for now.
”It is time to focus on the Premier League,” he said. “Maybe the next draw all the four English clubs will be there. That’ll be good for us.”
It’s the seventh year in succession that City have qualified for the knockouts, but the pressure is now on Guardiola to finally win the competition.
The City manager added: “It’s a lot. Seven years in a row means you have to qualify seven times and being there.
“Now we’ll see which conditions we arrive here (in the last 16). It’s about the details.”
