“We tried to dominate the game and I am not unhappy the way we played because this is not an easy team or stadium to come to, but it is not the result we wanted”, the manager explained.
Advertisement
In addition to the aforementioned trio Zenit St Petersburg have confirmed their place as group winners, whilst one of Atletico Madrid or Benfica will also emerge.
“It’s part of football – to win, you have to score goals – but we missed chances and these things can happen”. As yet the severity of the hamstring injury is unknown, but it’s far from ideal given how other fitness problems have affected the team this season.
As for City, they felt the absence of their skipper keenly, making his continued absence all the more worrying.
The England no 1 was substituted in the closing minutes of City’s Champions League defeat to Juventus with what seemed like an hamstring problem.
“But we don’t have other injuries and the team is fit, the team is doing good training sessions and that’s always important to have a good feeling for the Saturday game”.
Pellegrini has not given up hope of reclaiming top spot, but his side must beat Borussia Monchengladbach and Juventus will need to lose at Sevilla.
“It’s never easy to win a Champions League game”.
Of course it was a chance tonight at least to draw, but we will continue to depend on what we do in the last game.
“We have a fantastic squad”.
Juve, who completed the domestic double last season and reached the final of the Champions League, are seeking to recover from an terrible start to their Serie A campaign that has seen them suffer four defeats already this term.
Juve were let off again after Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up with Yaya Toure in the area and Fernandinho pounced, only to flash over from 10 yards out.
But moments later the visitors were stunned when Alex Sandro fired a delightful cross into the path of Mandzukic, who muscled his way past Nicolas Otamendi to finish.
Advertisement
The Italians were impressive on the night and Paulo Dybala twice went close to doubling the lead, being denied by Hart and a post.
