The England goalkeeper was left on the bench for a second match in succession by new manager Pep Guardiola as City thrashed Steaua Bucharest 5-0 in the first leg of their play-off in Romania.
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Zabaleta said: “I felt we were on top of them during the whole game”.
Reghecampf will pit his wits against Pep Guardiola, a two-time victor of the competition with Barcelona, as the Spaniard brings his new team to the Romanian capital for the first leg of a crucial play-off.
Paddy McNair’s own goal gave Pep Guardiola a winning start at Man City after Sunderland tied the match late.
Meanwhile, it’s 9/2 (5.50) that Hart, Manchester City’s longest serving player, remains in situ at the Etihad Stadium to fight for his place and try to convince Guardiola that he is capable of adapting to the style of play that the former Barcelona boss is trying to implement. I have a lot of respect about how they play and we are going to try to score goals because in the Champions League scoring goals away is so, so important.
The season now looks certain to feature another Champions League challenge after City all but guaranteed their place in the group stage with a superb display in the Romanian capital.
“He plays for the national team and he was so important for the two Premier League (title) wins”.
The England worldwide was also dropped against Sunderland, with Willy Caballero starting, but was part of the travelling party to Romania.
“Claudio is a great professional, he is one of the most experienced players in this team”, Mascherano said. It depends on our game.
“It all depends on the quality of the players”.
However, they feel 24-year-old German Marc Andre Ter Stegen is more of an asset due to his age, and after expressing his concerns over a lack of playing time towards the end of last season, are keen to keep him at the club.
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“He is a full worldwide, somebody who, probably before City took the money, could have gone on to bigger and better things himself but stayed and wanted to be at City”.
