Manchester City’s Champions League credentials-or lack thereof-were again under the microscope against Juventus as Manuel Pellegrini’s side looked to put a hard weekend behind them.
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City were beaten 1-0 in Turin to lose control of Group D, slipping to second behind the Italians and facing the prospect of yet another tough draw in the last 16.
City host Borussia Monchengladbach on matchday six, with Juve travelling to Spain to take on Sevilla, and Pellegrini insists that his already-qualified side can still top the group. “We’ll need to play well to win”. “Sevilla have to win that game to try to qualify for the Europa League”, said Pellegrini.
City’s surprise hammering by Liverpool was only the second time that they had conceded four goals in a competitive game at the Etihad – the other occasion being against Aston Villa in 2012.
“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”.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart is Manchester City’s latest casualty, having suffered a hamstring strain in midweek. The bad news is that Joe Hart (hamstring) will miss at least two games and Vincent Kompany is still out with his troublesome calf. Kompany has started in only two Champions League games this season and has also missed a chunk of league fixtures due to injury. Dybala flourished in a supporting role, Stephan Lichtsteiner was always a threat on the right while the three-man defence restricted City’s most unsafe striker Sergio Aguero to one real scoring chance.
“We have to see what Juventus will do against Sevilla”, said Pellegrini, who also complained that his defender Nicolas Otamendi was fouled by Mandzukic before the Croatian scored.
Pogba feinted round his marker and the former Manchester United player spread the ball to the left for Alex Sandro to cross in towards Mandzukic, who volleyed home.
City were briefly left with 10 men when Jesus Navas fell under a challenge from Sandro, and Juventus brazenly capitalized.
Compared to the list of potential second placed sides and they have every reason for kicking themselves this morning.
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Fernandinho blasted over when well placed, Yaya Toure twice went close and Fernando had a header touched onto the post by Gianluigi Buffon. A few years ago it was rare not to see a team from the Premier League in the final stages of this competition, but in recent years they’ve been lucky to get past the first knockout round.
