Manchester City's tag as favourites to win the Champions League is recognition for having the best players in the world to choose from, according to assistant manager Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard will take charge of City's European opener on Wednesday at home to Lyon as Pep Guardiola serves a ban for being sent to the stands during a quarter-final defeat to Liverpool last season.
Arteta admitted he is surprised that Real Madrid haven't retained their status as favourites after winning three consecutive Champions League titles and with the final to be played in the Spanish capital this season.
However, the former Arsenal midfielder insists there is far more to what City are building in trying to win the European Cup for the first time than simply spending hundreds of millions in assembling one of the strongest squads in the competition.
"For me, we have the best players in the world," Arteta said.
"They are fantastic, the mix we have between senior players and younger players, the hunger they still have in this group it is incredible.
"People talk about other things because of the money that has been spent, but people have to see what is inside this club and what has been created which is phenomenal."
"We are preparing every single detail and learning from the past because we believe we can do better."