Yaya gives City hope as Suarez comes calling
THE majority of M Manchester City fans still belie believe their team’s number one priority should be retaining their Premier League tit title. Living in Manche Manchester, and knowing a lot of C City supporters, most think that the Champions Le League is still a bonus. But I am sure that is not a view held by the owners. And M Manuel Pellegrini m may never say it pu publically, but in internally, with all the mon money they’ve sp spent, I suspect l lifting the Champions League is their number one goal.
Whether they are good enough to do it, and keep the owners happy we could find out this week when City return to Champions League action, and another encounter with Barcelona.
A year ago, the cagey tie was decided in the first leg at the Etihad where City lost 2-0. It started with a little burst from Lionel Messi, who was brought down by Martin Demichelis. City went down to 10 men and Messi converted the penalty.
Dani Alves sealed City’s fate in the final minute to get Barca’s second. Not many sides go to the Nou Camp with a two-goal deficit and win; City lost the second leg 2-1.
This time Sergio Aguero should be fit, which is a massive boost for City after he only played 45 minutes of the two legs last season.
With Yaya Toure (left) back from African Cup of Nations duties, I think the City boss should go with a 4-5-1 with Toure playing off Aguero, leaving Fernandinho and Fernando to play the holding roles. David Silva has to play at the Etihad, as does James Milner on form, and I’m not sure how fit Samir Nasri is.
The City fans will be desperate for Vincent Kompany to play because he does make such a difference and I’d imagine Pellegrini will want his most rigid and defensive back four out there, so I expect to see Pablo Zabaleta, Kompany, Gael Clichy and the improving Demichelis start.
Man-for-man, Manchester City are equipped to beat Barcelona but Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are starting to look formidable now. Suarez is destined to be in the thick of what promises to be another fascinating Champions League clash.