Kelechi Iheanacho is hoping his performance against Stoke will earn him the chance to fulfil a dream and face Real Madrid.
The Nigerian youngster made his fourth Premier League start for Manchester City on Saturday and scored twice in a 4-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Iheanacho has impressed every time he has been given a chance by Manuel Pellegrini this season and the 19-year-old has quickly become a fan favourite.
His Champions League career has so far been limited to two late substitute appearances against Dynamo Kiev and Paris St Germain, but Pellegrini did not rule out Iheanacho playing a part on Tuesday in one of the biggest games in the club's history.
Real Madrid visit the Etihad for the first leg of City's first Champions League semi-final, offering Iheanacho the chance to challenge himself against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
"I think I should dream about that because it's a great team to dream about," he said. "It would be a dream come true to play against them.
"Ronaldo and Messi are the greatest players on the planet so I think playing against them is a big thing to anyone. It would be a big thing to me if I play against him on Tuesday."
Iheanacho impressed with his all-round play against Stoke, not just scoring two goals but also winning the penalty that Sergio Aguero converted for City's second.
The teenager did not want to talk up his chances of playing on Tuesday too much, saying: "It was a great performance for everybody, everybody really did well, so it depends on who the manager picks. Everyone is fit to face Madrid.
"(If I was picked) I would feel very great, I would feel very happy. I would grab the opportunity and really work hard."
Barring injury concerns for Fernando and Yaya Toure, the Stoke victory was the ideal start to a huge week, with City moving closer to securing a top-four spot.
"It was a big match because we need to stay in the top four so United is behind us," said Iheanacho. "We needed three points.
"This game is a great preparation for us against Real Madrid. On Tuesday, we need to focus and work hard because they're a good side. I think we are prepared to face them."
Joining Real, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in the last four has propelled City into the highest echelons of European football - and they are not ready to stop there.
Iheanacho said: "It's a great achievement for the club and for everybody being in the last four of the tournament. We really need to go forward and get to the final. It would be a dream to get to the final so we're really hoping for that."
A positive season for Stoke has turned sour, with Saturday's match the third in a row in which they have conceded four goals.
Goalkeeper Shay Given was forced off at half-time with a groin problem to make it seven players out injured, but defender Philipp Wollscheid insisted that was no excuse.
He told Stoke City Player: "We still had 11 players out on the pitch and it'd be too easy to use that. Everyone has to get back on track and improve both individually and as a team.
"At the moment, with how we are performing we are far away from taking any points."
Source: PA
