- Title: SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/MAN CITY Man City target fast start against ailing Juventus
- Date: 14th September 2015
- Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER CITY PLAYERS ON THE TRAINING PITCH MANCHESTER CITY PLAYERS RAHEEM STERLING AND KEVIN DE BRUYNE MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER MANUEL PELLEGRINI (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANUEL PELLEGRINI, MANCHESTER CITY COACH, SAYING: "It is not only important for the team to be successful here in the domestic league, we need to also be successful in Europe, but it needs to be step by step. Last year and the year before Barcelona were a very strong team and if we qualify for the next stage I hope we will not play against Barcelona again. If we have to play against a strong team then I hope we will be ready at that stage, but I don't want to jump one step and I am just thinking about the group and nothing more." PELLEGRINI PLAYERS TRAINING DE BRUYNE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANUEL PELLEGRINI, MANCHESTER CITY COACH, SAYING: "I think we will play against a very strong squad, that is why they have won the title for the last four years in a row in Italy and it is not easy. They got to the final in the Champions League last season and maybe they have not started well this season but they have very good players, including Pogba and a lot of other good players. So I am sure that tomorrow if we want to win then we have to play very well." YAYA TOURE PLAYERS TRAINING PELLEGRINI (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANUEL PELLEGRINI, MANCHESTER CITY COACH, SAYING: "The injury situation is that still injured are (Gael) Clichy, and (Pablo) Zabaleta can not play tomorrow. Sergio (Augero) is also not fit for tomorrow as he got a big hit on his knee, so we will wait on him but it will difficult for him to be (ready). David Silva and Raheem Sterling are fit and in the squad." GOALKEEPER JOE HART PLAYERS TRAINING VINCENT KOMPANY (SOUNDBITE) (English) VINCENT KOMPANY, MANCHESTER CITY CAPTAIN, SAYING: "It is really important for us, everything has been so bright so far (this season), but it is the same as everyone has been saying for the last four years - as long as we don't perform and show or quality in the Champions League as we have done in the Premier League then there will always be something left behind that leaves us unsatisfied. It is a really important game for us and we have been really looking forward to the start of this competition ever since the disappointing game in Barcelona." MANCHESTER CITY PLAYERS TOURE TRAINING KOMPANY TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) VINCENT KOMPANY, MANCHESTER CITY CAPTAIN, SAYING: "We have to be, it can not be what it was in the previous years. Last year I will have to say we did come up against a very good Barcelona team - it is not an excuse it is just the truth. The group might be the hardest this year again but in that sense we have learnt to cope with it in the last few years so that is not a bad thing for us. It is the Champions League and it is good to play against the best teams, this year has to be better but we are just looking to improve really." RAHEEM STERLING MANCHESTER CITY PLAYERS ON THE TRAINING PITCH
- Embargoed: 29th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAB8N5V3WYW85EU0T8CMJBK5CNV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Manchester City embark on a fifth Champions League campaign buoyant after a perfect start to their domestic season but still searching for the secret formula against Europe's top brass.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have again been handed a tough group and the visit of last year's runners-up Juventus to the Etihad on Tuesday (September 15) will provide an early Litmus test for their hopes of going past the last 16 for the first time.
"It is not only important for the team to be successful here in the domestic league, we need to also be successful in Europe, but it needs to be step by step," Pellegrini told reporters on Monday.
"Last year and the year before Barcelona were a very strong team and if we qualify for the next stage I hope we will not play against Barcelona again. If we have to play against a strong team then I hope we will be ready at that stage, but I don't want to jump one step and I am just thinking about the group and nothing more."
Not that the form of the Italian champions should be causing Pellegrini and his players much loss of sleep.
While City have 15 points from five Premier League games, their latest win coming at Crystal Palace on Saturday, Juventus needed a late penalty from Paulo Dybala to draw 1-1 draw with Chievo and avoid a third straight Serie A defeat.
Despite Juve's poor start Pellegrini said City will have to play well to win.
"I think we will play against a very strong squad, that is why they have won the title for the last four years in a row in Italy and it is not easy. They got to the final in the Champions League last season and maybe they have not started well this season but they have very good players, including Pogba and a lot of other good players. So I am sure that tomorrow if we want to win then we have to play very well."
City will be without injured striker Sergio Aguero, out with a knee injury, but midfielder David Silva is fit enough to take part, Pellegrini said.
"The injury situation is that still injured are (Gael) Clichy, and (Pablo) Zabaleta can not play tomorrow. Sergio (Augero) is also not fit for tomorrow as he got a big hit on his knee, so we will wait on him but it will difficult for him to be (ready). David Silva and Raheem Sterling are fit and in the squad," he said.
Pellegrini could well start with Wilfried Bony as his lone front man because he is his only available striker as Kelechi Iheanacho, the 18-year-old Nigerian who scored the winner at Palace, has not been included in City's Champions League squad.
Bony, who would be making his first appearance in the Champions League, has not scored this season, and has only found the net twice since his 28.0 million pound move from Swansea City in January. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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