Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez is enjoying playing in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
The Argentine has notched up 14 goals in 38 appearances, which included two goals in the continental competition, across all competitions in his first season in Manchester since moving from River Plate.
“Yes, at club level it’s obviously noticeable,” he said.
“It is Europe, most of the best players in the world play in these leagues.
“Although Copa Libertadores is also very difficult because of what football means in South America.
“Speaking of the World Cup, there are also very strong teams, but here in Europe, in these types of competitions the best teams are here.
“The players are very strong but that is the most beautiful thing that can happen to me, to be in the best club competition in the world.”
Alvarez was also confident ahead of the UCL quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. City have a 3-0 leg after an impressive win at home in the first leg.
“I knew I had to be prepared because they were many competitions at stake and obviously the Champions League is one of the most important,” he said.
“Now we are in the quarter-finals, having gone through in a great way against Leipzig, and now a great rival like Bayern Munich. We are prepared for this kind of matches and to fight in all competitions,” the striker added.
City’s manager Pep Guardiola was also eager to stamp his side’s authority in the second leg despite a good lead.
“Our mindset is to prepare for the game, watching the first leg and seeing things we can do better,” said Guardiola.
“We were focused a lot on what we have to do to try to not just control the game but punish them and try to score — of course we come to win the game. I don’t understand the logic to come here and defend; we come here to play a football game, 11 v 11 and do better than the opponent in this specific game. If you think about the result or the past it’s a mistake. We have to do our game and we prepare the game in that way.
“We’re going to defend for sure. It happened in Manchester; part of the game they were better, and we defended, and we will tomorrow. For us it’s an opportunity, if we play a game competing on history, we can’t play.
“This is an opponent to prove ourselves — against one of the best in Europe and we’ll try to impose our game. We’ll try to do as much time as possible and have the game on our side, but the mindset is to try and win the game. It’s what you have to do in the game, focus and every single action what you have to do to get the best result and reach the semi-final.”