Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte has admitted he wants to be considered one of the very best.
Laporte has featured 20 times in the Premier League for the Blues this season, helping them build a nine-point lead at the top of the table.
The 27-year-old has re-established himself as a key man in Pep Guardiola's backline, despite having looked to be destined for a move away from the Etihad Stadium before the start of the season.
Laporte has revealed he regularly studies the games of other top defenders in a bid to improve his own performances, while also lauding Guardiola's influence on his recent form.
"It’s something I dreamed of as a kid [becoming an elite-level footballer] and something I dreamed of as an adult, too," he told City Mag.
"It’s an objective as a footballer that you try to reach the very top, to be the best you can – you just want to be the number one if it is possible.
"It is difficult, but we are trained to be the best and I am no different than others in wanting to be the best.
"I watch other defenders that I admire and sometimes you take little things from watching them and try and take it onto the pitch.
"Pep’s knowledge of football is vast and when he has an idea, he works very hard on the training pitch to get his thoughts across until we get it. I have learned a lot under him."
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
