Sven-Goran Eriksson accepts the pressure and expectations surrounding his Manchester City side are growing - but that is just how he likes it.
City's stunning derby success over Manchester United a fortnight ago - the club's first at Old Trafford since 1974 - has left them in strong contention for a European place.
But the jostling for positions among the Barclays Premier League's chasing pack remains intense with Everton, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Blackburn all battling it out with City.
Eriksson is determined to bring European football to the City of Manchester Stadium, in the UEFA Cup or even the elite Champions League, and is relishing the challenge ahead.
"It is a dream to play in the Champions League next season, of course it is, but it is a dream for Everton and other teams as well," said the Swede, whose side host the Toffees on Monday.
"Playing in Europe would be extremely good, the UEFA Cup as well, so we are going to try to do it.
"There is pressure but that is good. It is not good to work with a football team when there is no pressure on yourself - the pressure should be there.
"It is up to us whether we want to play in Europe or not. The position we have now is good."
Eriksson will have almost a full-strength squad available to face Everton following the return of Vedran Corluka and Elano from suspension.
With exciting teenage midfielder Michael Johnson also back in contention following a two-month lay-off, Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov is now City's only absentee.
The competition for places is not making former England boss Eriksson's job any easier but he welcomes the extra difficulties.
Eriksson said: "Hopefully we will not have any more big injuries before the season finishes.
"It is now not easy to make the first XI and it is not easy to make the XI plus the bench either.
"To touch a team that wins at Old Trafford? I don't know. Maybe... maybe not. We will see.
"But it is good to have decisions. It is good for everyone at the club, even the players.
"It is good to have competition for places. Many times during the year there hasn't been competition.
"The rest of the season is very important and to have a big squad is very good."
Due to their early elimination from the FA Cup, City have had plenty of time to savour their derby victory.
Eriksson believes the break has done his players good and he expects them now to build on their win over United to tackle the final 12 games of the season with renewed vigour.
"I would have preferred to play in the FA Cup but unfortunately we didn't do that," Eriksson said. "But I think the break came at the right moment - we needed that, maybe not physically but mentally.
"United was an extremely good performance from us. If we could play like that every week with the same spirit and attitude, it would be very good.
"If we thought the season is over we could pack up and go home but I hope we are more clever than that.
"I know that all the players would like to play in Europe next season and to do that we need to finish the season in a very good way."
David Moyes' Everton began the weekend in fourth place and head into the game in good spirits after a thumping UEFA Cup win over Brann.
Eriksson added: "I saw Everton on Thursday. They are playing good football, scoring six goals. It will be a very difficult game.
"He [Moyes] has been doing a great job with that club, playing in Europe. They have played Champions League as well. That is a fantastic achievement."
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