Manchester City embark on a fifth Champions League campaign buoyant after a flawless start to their domestic season, but still searching for the secret formula against Europe’s top brass.
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Manchester City’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Italian side Juventus to kick off their Champions League campaign last night highlights how much work the Premier League pacesetters have to do in Europe, says Yaya Toure.
“I think we play against a very strong squad (Juventus) – that’s why they won the title four years in a row and made the final of the Champions League“. I don’t think we played that bad.
There were plenty of positives throughout – but ultimately they were found wanting as Juve’s European knowhow saw them leave the Etihad with three points to seize the initiative in Group D.
Juventus deservedly beat Manchester City as they played far more as a team than the Premier League leaders, according to Arrigo Sacchi.
“I’m disappointed with the result”. I think that was a typical game for the Champions League.
City eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the halftime break when Vincent Kompany’s towering header deflected in off Giorgio Chiellini, who was credited with an own goal.
“We controlled the game and didn’t have many problems but football is like that”.
“If we missed one game previous year, then it was our home game with Monaco”. Fernandino drove forward from midfield and slotted in Raheem Sterling but the $75 million winger hit his shot straight at the imposing figure of Gianluigi Buffon.
Juventus, who will be without injured midfielder Claudio Marchisio for Tuesday’s clash after he sustained a muscle injury against Chievo, have yet to spark at all this season, although coach Massimiliano Allegri is not panicking. “We’ve been fearless and I think what we have to do is learn from this opener and try to do better in the next game”. It goes without saying we would sooner have him playing than not and we’ll want him back sooner rather than later though! We should’ve done better in attack during the first half and missed chances, while we did have a goal disallowed.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side faces a very hard challenge next, when they take on Bundesliga’s Borussia Monchengladbach at Borussia Park on September 30.
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Would we have seen out, at least, a one-all draw with Kompany on the pitch?
