Pep Guardiola has highlighted the importance of qualifying for the group stage proper of the Champions League.

Manchester City take on Steaua Bucharest in the first leg of the play-off round in Romania on Tuesday night and Guardiola is well aware that the main goal of the club is to be competing in Europe's premier club competition.

The Spaniard's first official game in charge of City was a 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday and he now has the task of getting the Manchester giants beyond Steaua and into Europe which he knows is important.

"I enjoy my job preparing the games, seeing what is going to happen and anticipating what the players are going to find during the game, and trying to find solutions," said Guardiola.

"That is my job.

"I saw enough games about Steaua. I have a lot of respect about how they play and we are going to try to score goals because in the Champions League scoring goals away is so, so important. But you know you have one more game next week in Manchester.

"Of course it is also convincing the players how important it is to play in the Champions League, how beautiful it is to play during the season in Europe. We are going to try to do that."