Pep Guardiola admits that Manchester City’s campaign will be defined by their success in the Champions League ahead of their clash against RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Tuesday’s second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 match against Bundesliga pacesetters Leipzig will determine whether City advances to the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.

Guardiola’s team played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but they are expected to advance in front of their home fans at Etihad Stadium.

The quest to end City’s wait to win Europe’s premier club competition is both a source of frustration and inspiration for Guardiola.

During his seven years in Manchester, the 52-year-old has won the Premier League four times, as well as four League Cups and one FA Cup. He has also won four League Cups and one FA Cup.

Despite his domestic success with City, the Champions League remains his ultimate goal.

Guardiola won the Champions League twice as the head coach of Barcelona, in 2009 and 2011, but he was unable to repeat this feat during his three years with Bayern Munich.

City lost the 2021 final to Chelsea, and have endured a series of agonizing exits from the knockout stages, with last season’s stunning late collapse against Real Madrid in the semi-finals proving to be a particularly bitter blow.

Guardiola told reporters when asked if his time at City would be evaluated solely based on his European accomplishments: “Yes. Without a doubt, we will be judged based on the results of this competition.”

Under his leadership, he believes that City’s gradual ascent from outsiders to established members of Europe’s elite merits greater esteem.

“Since day one when I arrived, sitting here for the first time, they (the media) asked me ‘Are you here to win the Champions League?'” he said.

“I said ‘What? If you are manager of Real Madrid maybe I accept that.’ But I accept it here. It’s not going to change.”