Manchester City's bid to retain their Champions League title will be less difficult than their long endeavour to win Europe's top club competition, manager Pep Guardiola said on Monday.
City lifted their first Champions League crown with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in June, bringing an end to years of disappointment in the competition.
Asked about City's chances of retaining the title ahead of their Group G opener at home to Red Star Belgrade, Guardiola told reporters: "It'll be easier. The most difficult to win is the first one. It is incredible for us but it is just one.
However, Guardiola said his players should not feel at ease, adding: "Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the first step. We will try and get the first three points.
"It's important the players don't feel relaxed. For our club to win the Champions League is incredible but in perspective how many (clubs have) won one Champions League? A lot.
"We haven't done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud."
Guardiola said the injured trio of Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic, who all missed City's 3-1 win at West Ham United on Saturday, would still not be available on Tuesday.
"I think they are getting better, they are not for tomorrow," Guardiola added.
"Hopefully for Nottingham Forest (in the Premier League on Saturday) or coming games because we need it because we have not a big squad at that moment but it is what it is.
"Look how we prove (ourselves) without them in the last games. Hopefully, they'll be back soon because we need the competition."
City also won the Premier League and FA Cup to seal a treble last season but despite that success England right-back Kyle Walker said there was no shortage of motivation in the squad.
"It's our job (to be motivated). We're at a massive club for a reason," he told reporters.
PSG's quest
An obsession with winning the Champions League would only hurt Paris St Germain, manager Luis Enrique said on the eve of the Ligue 1 side's group-stage clash with Borussia Dortmund.
PSG have been the most successful club in France since Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011, winning the league nine times. They have also had success in France's domestic cup competitions, but have failed to win the Champions League.
The French champions relaunch their quest for the elusive trophy on Tuesday, taking on Dortmund in their opening game of a difficult group — which also features English side Newcastle United and seven-time winners AC Milan of Italy.
"When a club is obsessed with something, it's never a good sign. You have to have ambition but obsession doesn't work in any area of life," Luis Enrique told reporters on Monday, ahead of the game at Parc des Princes.
"You have to wait and see how the competition goes, football is a wonderful sport, any result is possible.
"You can play an incredible game and lose, play badly and win. As a club, we play all competitions to win them, that's the objective. It's very ambitious but it's necessary."
Club captain Marquinhos echoed Enrique: "The Champions League is not an obsession, there isn't pressure.
"We're working because we're competitors, and the club is determined to win every competition, including this one."
