Joleon Lescott has said that top European clubs should still be scared of Manchester City, despite their exit from the Champions League last week.

The Premier League leaders failed to make the last 16 of the competition, but Lescott says that City have left their mark on Europe.

"Even though we've gone out, we like to think teams in Europe will be scared of us now," Lescott said.

"They can see we are a serious team. We have signed some great players who have played in the Champions League before, but we are still gelling as a team.

"I see ourselves in the same bracket as Chelsea and United now, so I wouldn't say it's an added bonus in the league to go out of the Champions League."

Lescott also said that he is looking forward to tonight's clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

"This is the sort of game we want after going out of Europe," he said. "Chelsea are one of our main rivals and we are one of theirs, so it will be an exciting game that means a lot and it will be a good benchmark for us to judge how far we have come.

"We have Arsenal after that too but we don't fear anyone. On the whole we have done well, and I think it is only the Bayern game away we failed to score in.

"We are not afraid of going to Stamford Bridge. We don't think we'll go and score six like at Old Trafford, because that was even a shock to us.

"But we know if teams don't apply themselves right against us, we can punish them. Our main goal this season was always the Premier League and that remains so."

City currently enjoy a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League.