Patrice Evra said Manchester City have no more excuses for Champions League failure after signing Erling Haaland.
Evra knows a thing or two about winning Europe's elite club trophy, being part of the Manchester United side which was victorious in 2007-08.
The Citizens lost in the Champions League semi-final last season to eventual winners Real Madrid, having lost the previous campaign's final to Chelsea.
City signed Norwegian striker Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in the summer after meeting his £50million buyout clause.
And ex-United defender Evra said Pep Guardiola's side had no more excuses for falling short on the European stage after acquiring the 22-year-old.
'He [Haaland] is a monster. He is using his physique, he's a killer in front of goal, he does the right movements, he's sharp for someone tall and strong. He's like a cat,' Evra said, according to Manchester Evening News.
'He got them back on track and that's why he's a number nine, and this is a real number nine. City were winning the league without a striker, but in the Champions League they struggled, now I feel like they have no excuse.
'When they lost that final against Chelsea, Guardiola decided to play without any striker, now this won't happen again.'
Manchester City's Champions League campaign continues when they visit Copenhagen on October 5, after winning their first two matches.
Haaland's impact in Europe has been instantly noticeable, with a brace against Sevilla, and an acrobatic finish against his former club Dortmund.
Those goals came in addition to the 11 he has struck in the Premier League, leaving him five goals clear in the Golden Boot race ahead of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Harry Kane.
