London: Manuel Pellegrini has boldly gone where no Manchester City manager has gone before after his team qualified for the knock-out stage of the Champions League with two games to spare.

“I don’t know if it’s a relief but it’s our first target for the year and I think it’s important for the club to be in that stage. I had a lot of faith in my players that we could do it,” Pellegrini said.

“I’m very happy as this is an achievement that the club did not do in the last two years,” added the Chilean.

“It is not easy to do it and two games before the group finishes we are now in the last 16 so that is very important for the club, the players and the fans, the whole club.”

Iker Casillas is another man who finally had a reason to cheer after Tuesday’s match between Real Madrid and Juventus.

The Spain goalkeeper, largely overlooked by his club manager this season, earned praise from opposition number Gianluigi Buffon, a talisman himself.

“I’m happy Gianluigi Buffon offered me his congratulations at the end of the game,” said Casillas, 32. “These days, it’s difficult to get into the team so when I have the opportunity to play I have to be at my maximum level in order that the coach keeps faith in me.

“It’s not easy only playing every two weeks but that’s the way it is.”

“Casillas did really well,” said Buffon. “His saves helped his team get a draw. It won’t be easy for us now but we’ll do what we can to qualify.”