Manchester City are more determined than ever to win the Champions League this season, Ruben Dias says.
However, in order to achieve that, they are only focussing on their last-16 clash with Sporting and nothing else.
City overcame their quarter-final hoodoo last season to beat Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and then Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages to set up a debut final appearance with Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Things didn't go to plan in the showpiece, though, with the Blues falling just short and losing to Thomas Tuchel's side in Porto. In response, they won their group in this year's Champions League - ahead of PSG - and have set up a return to Portugal with a last-16 clash with Sporting next month.
Dias, who will get another chance to return to his homeland for the away leg, says City's ambitions of winning the Champions League have only grown since losing the final last year.
And he outlined the lessons City learned from that experience which they will take into this year's knockout stage.
“I think it is just as important as every other competition for us,” Dias told the National.
“Obviously, it is the Champions League and, I guess, that says it all. But as a club, and with the team we have, we just want to go for everything. We want to win everything we can.
“The Champions League is a big challenge. There are loads of things involved with winning a Champions League. It is not an easy competition to win, but we are definitely trying our best to push and push every year.
“We need to know that it comes step by step. If you think too much ahead, you might trap yourself. We are very focused on the next round.
“Last year was one more step forward, not a step back in the final. We are working with that mentality, knowing we are getting closer. We just need to keep the focus on today.
“Of course we learned. The way through to the final was impressive. It was the real taste of how to get there. You can always play good, but to go through in the Champions League, you need something else. I guess that something else is having the details. The details make a big difference in these competitions.
“Never thinking too far ahead, but knowing that to build something and to reach the ultimate goal, we need to have the right structure.”
Dias also hailed Pep Guardiola's influence at City, citing his relentlessness and desire to always look ahead to the next game and nothing more.
“It is the fact that he never changes that keeps us going,” Dias said.
“After you win so much, and you have done all of what you did – or what he has done, last year and throughout his whole managing career - I guess his real secret is he keeps the same.
“He keeps pushing. He keeps you on red alert and doesn’t allow you to relax. Ultimately I think that is what makes the team not relax. Whatever you might win, you will not be relaxed the next year, and everyone knows it.
“You might win a game, but you know that after three days you have to do it again. That is very good when you want to be at the top, and especially when you are in a club like this, working with the players we have.
"We're a group of top players striving to get better, better every day. I guess that can only drive us to success."
