Danilo aiming to win third straight Champions League with Manchester City after Real Madrid double
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MANCHESTER CITY ace Danilo is eyeing a third straight Champions League winners' medal in May.
The Brazilian won Europe's biggest trophy in successive years before leaving Real Madrid for the Etihad in the summer.
And with the competition due to get underway again next week, Danilo believes he has a genuine chance of making it a hat-trick.
Pep Guardiola's men are expected to make light work of Basel in the round of 16, with the first leg in Switzerland on Tuesday.
And the Premier League leaders are among the favourites to go all the way and lift the trophy in Kiev on May 26.
Danilo knows what it takes to do that, having twice helped Zinedine Zidane's men to be crowned kings of Europe.
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He reckons it is possible for City — who have only gone past the first knockout stage once — but says they must improve.
Asked about the prospect, Danilo said: "Yes, of course. That's our goal. It's in our minds.
"But we still have room for a lot of improvement if we want to win the Champions League and not only that.
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"It's the same for the Premier League and the other competitions we take part in. We have the potential, it's in our minds but, again, we still need to improve a lot."
Danilo joined City for £25million in July after spending the two previous seasons in Madrid.
He can see the ingredients required to win the top prizes — as City remain in the hunt for an unprecedented Quadruple.
Danilo added: "Special players, a team ethic … you need all that. It's a great competition, a very difficult competition.
"You need to have special players that decide difficult games. You need team spirit to overcome the difficult moments as well. It's a combination of things."
City have one of the most special players in Europe right now in Kevin de Bruyne.
Danilo played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Madrid and is also a team-mate of Neymar for his country.
And he believes the Belgian is operating at a similar level, telling Arab News: "I think he's already there, for everything he's been doing in the club, in the games.
"Without any doubt, he's one of the best players in the world. Kevin is incredible.
"As a football player, I don't need to say it because he's been showing how amazing he is in every game. He is an amazing player, special, extremely clinical.
"As a person he is also incredible, a great team-mate, a great leader in this squad and he is helping us a lot."
Having won five medals at Madrid, Danilo already boasts an impressive collection for a player who is just 26.
Yet he still wants more as City face up to games in four different competitions between now and the end of the month — starting with today's Premier League game at home to Leicester.
Then, at the end of the season, lies the small matter of the World Cup where Brazil will, as usual, be among the favourites.
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Danilo smiled as he said: "That is my goal. I've been really lucky to be able to win amazing things in my career, many trophies.
"And I'm always focused on conquering everything in front of me." He has not had many chances to play in his favoured right-back position but his versatility makes him an important player for Guardiola.
Danilo lit up Turf Moor with a stunning goal in the 1-1 draw last Saturday and has adapted well to life in England.
He added: "Here we have a style of play I like a lot. We are always controlling the games, we keep the ball. "I'm enjoying it and always trying to help the team. It's a bit different — like the weather for a start.
"The game is more physical here, more intense, I'd say. But it's a competition I have always watched, it was always a dream for me to play in the Premier League.
"I am extremely satisfied with the league, the club and the city."
Danilo's goal at Burnley was a typical Brazilian strike but proved only enough to earn a point for City.
He added: "It was a beautiful goal, very important for me and for the team.
"But of course, we are also a little bit disappointed for not having won the three points.
"We must congratulate the whole team, we did a big effort, we controlled the game and we need to follow the same path."