With the 2023/2024 Champions League campaign set to kick off today, Manchester City are embarking on a new journey to defend the crown claimed at Istanbul three months ago.

City are drawn in Group G alongside Red Star Belgrade, Swiss side Young boys, and German opponents RB Leipzig.

Pep Guardiola’s side kick off this campaign as the defending champions for the first time in the club’s history.

However, Pep has said that it doesn’t make a difference in the way his side will approach this season’s challenge. He added that all focus will be on successfully making it out through the group stage first.

“Every season we start the competition with the first game and always the target is to win the first one, qualify from the group stage, for the last-16 and try to win the Champions League,” he said.

“Nothing changes from before when we didn’t win it or now we won it last season, nothing changes.

“There’s no more [priority] than Red Star tomorrow, it depends on our performance and level what happens.

“Of course we are incredibly happy to try to defend this crown but this competition won’t allow you many mistakes.

“The success we had in group stages is because of the success we had at home. Never miss one shot except in the first year against Lyon.

“Always we are so strong at home, making nine points from nine and when that happens and win just one game away you qualify. Tomorrow is the first step. And hopefully we can continue, convince the players we are serious, always we’ve done it, no matter the opponents and we try to get the first three points.”