Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is under pressure after his sides 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City were defeated 1-0 at relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday evening.
The defeat and Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Southampton leaves the Citizens six points behind the league leaders and the Blues also have a game in-hand.
It also leaves City looking over their shoulders nervously with Arsenal just a point behind them and arch-rivals Manchester United just two points behind them.
Europe
City’s attention will be drawn away from the Premier League on Wednesday night though, as Manuel Pellegrini’s side travel to Barcelona for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The first leg ended 2-1 to the team from Catalonia, but it could have proved far worse with Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi seeing a late penalty saved by Joe Hart, before the diminutive forward headed wide with the rebound.
City will have to play far better than they did at Turf Moor, or they could be facing a major embarrassment indeed in Spain.
Poor
City’s performance against Burnley was poor. They had a penalty claim turned down and Clarets keeper Tom Heaton enjoyed a good game, but still Burnley showed more desire and City simply did not show their undoubted quality in the clash.
Tactics
City boss Manuel Pellegrini got his tactics completely wrong against Barcelona in the first leg. He started the game with two up front against a Barcelona team that likes to dominate the ball and they were punished.
It is not the first time the Chilean has made such a naïve tactical mistake. He tends to make a habit of repeating this in Europe and against teams that are simply too good for City.
For all the money that City has spent in the last few years, they are still not good enough to attempt to go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in Europe, very few teams are on current form.
Pellegrini is considered a good coach, but maybe the reason why he is not considered a great coach is the fact that he makes the same tactical over and over. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
If Pellegrini decides to start with two up front against Barcelona on Wednesday night, then the men in the white coats may just come to take the Chilean away, because that would be complete and utter madness.
City do need to get back into the tie, but such is the threat from the Barcelona attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, they also have to make sure they are solid in midfield and defence.
City have been far from solid in either area of the pitch of late and have lost three out of their last four games in all competitions, the sole victory in that run coming against bottom of the table Leicester City.
City have also kept just two clean sheets in their last six games in all competitions, which will be a major concern for Pellegrini and his staff. It is not exactly an encouraging fact heading into a game against arguably the best attack in club football.
Quality
The Manchester City team does contain a number of quality players. The likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero would get into a lot of the top teams in the European game. However, all three have struggled to hit top form, because of a variety of reasons.
Toure is at his best when allowed the freedom to maraud forward, usually as an attacking midfielder. However, when playing in a central midfield two he seems less effective.
David Silva is a master creator on his day, but the Spanish international can blow hot and cold. When on form he can be a match winner on his own. City really needs the former-Valencia star to be at his best at the Nou Camp.
Sergio Aguero is one of the best strikers in the world game. The Argentinian international scored City’s goal in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium. The former-Atletico forward has scored just three times in his last nine Premier League appearances though.
He does have the talent to trouble the Barcelona defence, but he needs the City midfield to give him better service.
Betting News
The odds are against Manchester City progressing into the last eight of the competition and it will be a major task trying to recover the 2-1 deficit from the first leg. City will have to be at their best to better Barcelona and at the moment it is difficult to see anything other than the Catalans progressing from this tie.
Can City upset the odds and defeat Barcelona?
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