The former Blues defender, now on the coaching staff at Malaga, made 104 appearances between 2013 and 2016 during Manuel Pellegrini’s reign, winning the Premier League title and two League Cups during his stay.
The Argentina defender proved a popular figure among City fans but believes the expectation levels have risen even higher under Pep Guardiola.
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“Nowadays it looks like is mandatory to win trophies,” said Demichelis.
“Winning has to be an ambition for people with a winning mindset like Pep and his players.
“Last season City won the title with a big gap to the rest of contenders and he is the perfect manager to make the players feel that they want even improve on what they have done so far.
“It is a big challenge. When you arrive at this stage of the season and you can still achieve everything you are been fighting for, it is an incredible feeling for a player.”
Demichelis will be watching City in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday and says he has fantastic memories of playing at Wembley.
“When you grow up and begin to visualise that you could become a professional footballer, to play a final is a dream and if you can do it at Wembley, the dream becomes even bigger,” he said.
“I went there in my first season at City and I remember the atmosphere at the stadium, full of our supporters.
“At that point of the season we still had chances to win everything and the World Cup was only a few months away.
“There was so much at stake. Despite going 1-0 down to Sunderland, we kept our self-confidence, we knew that we were a very consistent team would have our chances to came back – and we did.
“The current City team are dominant, even more than ours. The idea of football is pretty similar. But I think that if you have a look at the squad, name by name, the currant team is better.
“You can change a lot of players, but the team still plays the same way. I think that the team nowadays has better alternatives that our one had.”
Demichelis also believes the Blues’ Champions League aspirations are progressing in the right direction.
The Blues took a 3-2 first leg lead against Schalke on Wednesday evening and have a good chance of making the quarter-finals for a second year in succession.
Demichelis was part of the City side that were eliminated by Real Madrid at the semi-final stage of the competition in 2016.
But he believes the pioneering side he was part of was important in making the Blues a European force to eb reckoned with.
“It was very important,” he opined. “We were doing little achievements year after year. It comes from long ago that the City aim is not only to win in a domestic level.
“Little by little the club have been growing up in Europe to become the contender that currently are and earning the respect of the top European clubs.
“I have no doubt that the club can succeed in Europe. In this business you earn respect winning trophies and the Champions League is the next step.
“As a City supporter I can’t wait to see what we can achieve this season.
“I love watching City play. I think that nowadays only Barcelona can do something similar that City do every three or four days.
“I love good football and if my son’s games allow me to do it, I prepare a mate (South American herbal drink) - as the Argentinian I am - to enjoy watching City play and also analyse what a team with such alternatives can do.
“If I can, I never miss a game.”
