Pellegrini and Kompany Confident Manchester City can Qualify for UCL Quarter-finals Ahead of Barcelona Despite 0-2 Loss at Etihad
Oladunjoye Opeyemi
Manchester City Manager, Manuel Pellegrini, and Captain, Vincent Kompany have said that they are confident the team can overturn the deficit 2 goals spanish Giants, Barcelona, have over them to proceed to the next round in the UCL.
“We are confident we can fight back. We can do it if we have a good game,” says Pellegrini in an interview with CityTV, while Kompany said: “We have a lot of attacking players. If everything goes well we can get a good result”
Pellegrini is suspended for Wednesday ’s match against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou, but the Chilean is confident in his team’s chances of reaching the next round of the Champions League as he added: “If we have a good day we can do it. We will play to win the match, we can get our revenge.”
The Chilean manager highlighted Barça’s quality but he’s not ruling anything out: “It’s difficult to win in the Camp Nou because Barça are a good team with good players. The pitch is also big and their fans will support them. If we score early maybe they will get nervous. If they score first, it will be easier for them,” said the former manager of Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga.
Kompany was present at the Press Room at the Camp Nou, and the captain echoed his manager: “We are very excited. We’re motivated and we’re confident that we can get a good result.”
The Belgian center back went on to say that his team-mates know exactly what to do: “We’re here to have a special night. We have to score three goals. If we score the first goal, the dynamic of the tie will chance.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Tata Martino has called up all 23 available squad players for the game against Manchester City, with only the injured Jonathan dos Santos and Isaac Cuenca missing out
The 23 players trained this morning and will stay at a hotel near the Camp Nou tonight so as to put the finishing touches to their preparation in a training session early Wednesday at the Camp Nou.
Full list of players for the City game
Valdés, Pinto, Montoya, Piqué, Fàbregas, Puyol, Xavi, Pedro, Iniesta, Alexis, Messi, Neymar Jr., Mascherano, Bartra, Sergio, Song, Jordi Alba, Afellay, Tello, Adriano, Dani Alves, Sergi Roberto and Olazábal.