“My feeling is that we can stand up to City and advance further”.
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After two harsh losses, can Manchester City bounce back and win the first leg match of the Round of 16 against Dynamo Kiev? It’s a big chance for us to go through to the next round.
With injuries putting pressure on a thin squad, Pellegrini fielded a team of youngsters against Chelsea on Sunday in the cup.
“I always take the best decision for the club”.
“It is important to realise the potential of Manchester City in attack, and with (Vincent) Kompany’s return, power is restored in the defence”. We have, at this moment, seven players injured.
“We know we’ve been playing against the best teams in Europe”.
Sergio Aguero walks out of the tunnel during a Manchester City training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against Dynamo Kiev at the Olympic Stadium on February 23, 2016 in Kiev, Ukraine.
In the last five matches in the league they have won two against Crystal palace by 4-0 and against Sunderland by 0-1, drew one against The West ham united by 2-2 and lost two against Leicester City by 1-3 and against Tottenham by 1-2. “Else there is no point in turning up on Wednesday”.
Chilean coach Pellegrini will leave the Etihad Stadium in the summer, with Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola to take over, but once again he rebuffed claims the situation is taking its toll on his players.
On the flip side, Manchester City head to Ukraine with their confidence at its lowest ebb.
Worth “mortally wounding” the FA Cup for, as the prosecution would have you believe.
Pellegrini’s concerns centre around fixture congestion for a stretched squad – Kevin De Bruyne (knee), Fabian Delph (Achilles), Samir Nasri (thigh), Eliaquim Mangala and Jesus Navas (both hamstring) will all miss out, while Bacary Sagna (knee) and Wilfried Bony (calf) are unlikely to start.
I think Mr Pellegrini will be happy with anything out of the first leg game, whether that’s a draw or maybe a couple of away goals. Kiev had to play their last group game against Maccabi Tel Aviv behind closed doors for offences including the racist behaviour of fans.
“There is probably no need to remind you of the titanic efforts that were made by every part of our club so that this game could be held in a proper football atmosphere, with spectators”, Dynamo said in a statement.
Manuel Pellegrini wants to make history before he is consigned to history.
Dynamo will be without one of their most important attackers in Yarmolenko, while midfielder Morozyuk and full-back Antunes are also sidelined.
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The only doubt for Dynamo is key forward Andriy Yarmolenko, who will not be risked if not 100 per cent fit. That and some warm-weather training in Spain was no kind of preparation for the storm Manchester City were to unleash.
