“He has a problem with his hamstring, I don’t know if it’s for the hamstring, or because he’s been carrying a problem with his back for the last week”, added the Chilean.
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Meanwhile, Juventus are coming into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over AC Milan and will look to continue their momentum against City.
Pellegrini also expects Kompany to be out for at least a fortnight with his calf problem while there is still no definitive news on Silva’s ankle injury.
After falling to a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad to the Italian champions in their opening match, many would not have predicted that the Citizens would lead the group with two matches remaining. And seeing as Marchisio has quite a bit of clout when he speaks, you tend to pay a little more attention when the words are coming out of his mouth. He’s working with the physio in Manchester.
Pellegrini said: “We have played already against Juventus”.
Speaking to BT Sport after the match, Pellegrini also lamented missed chances from his team after Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling passed up gilt-edged opportunities. We’ve got to hold our hands up and congratulate Liverpool, but that’s gone now – it’s the same as when we’ve smashed someone 6-0 or 5-1, we have to take the good and bad from the game and be ready for the next one.
City pushed for an equaliser and were almost rewarded in the 53rd minute, as Buffon pushed Fernandinho’s header onto the post, before Toure fired over from the rebound. Pellegrini says it was an outlier and the team will bounce back.
“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”. Juventus are keen on moving into the final 16 as the Group D leaders, but that might not mean that they get an easier draw. Juventus will guarantee their progress with a victory, but a defeat could even be sufficient if Sevilla do not beat Borussia Monchengladbach.
“We were very unlucky in the draw against Barcelona both seasons, but we are showing now that we have qualified two games before we finished the group stage”.
Are Juve stronger than City? .
Pellegrini said: “Everyone criticises this club for the performance in Europe”. “It was a close game, they won the game but we didn’t deserve to lose that game”. They’re not in their best moment domestically, but I’m sure we’ll be up against a team that is determined to win the game.
Alvaro Morata replaced Mandzukic on 54 minutes and moments later the Spaniard sent a chip towards the far post that Paulo Dybala turned onto the upright.
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Allegri said: “I think this was a match of several chances for both sides”.
