Manchester City v Barcelona: We are now bigger than Manchester United, says Manuel Pellegrini
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Man City manager stirs up Mancunian rivalry by saying there is one club in Manchester and it's not United, ahead of Champions League round of 16 tie with Barcelona
Manuel Pellegrini claims Manchester City will welcome Barcelona to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night as the ruling force in the city after insisting his club are now bigger than Manchester United.
With midfielder David Silva declaring that a Champions League victory over the Spanish champions would signal City’s “coming of age” on the international stage, Pellegrini’s hopes of masterminding a first-leg success have been boosted by the return to fitness of Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho following a thigh injury.
The encounter with Barcelona, City’s first competitive meeting with the Catalans, is likely to prove the sternest test of the home side’s prospects of completing an unprecedented quadruple this season.
But with the visit of Lionel Messi and Co falling almost 15 years to the day since City entertained Macclesfield Town in a League One fixture at Maine Road, Pellegrini claimed that the club’s recent rise under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan means they have now surpassed champions United to become the cream of Manchester.
“If we only consider this season, there is just one club in Manchester and it is ours,” Pellegrini said. “But you cannot forget what United has done in the previous years.
“We are aiming to keep growing by winning many trophies, not just national, but international trophies.
“We are fighting for four titles this year. We have to be patient because you cannot change the team from one day to another. But we have to keep the philosophy of the style and for that you need time.”
City’s recent rise to prominence is reflected by the fact that Barcelona’s four previous competitive visits to Manchester have all been to Old Trafford, where they have lost two and drawn two of their European encounters with United.
Barcelona’s only trip to the Etihad came in August 2003, when the club were opponents for the official opening of the stadium following City’s move from Maine Road. But while that fixture proved a landmark moment for the home team, who will be without the injured Sergio Agüero on Tuesday night, Spain international Silva believes the game carries far greater significance for City’s ambitions of becoming a global powerhouse.
“Beating Barcelona would be like a coming of age for Manchester City,” Silva said. “It is very important for our confidence and international recognition.
“Barcelona are the favourites. They have the history, the experience, and the best player in the world in Leo Messi. But of course we have an opportunity. We believe in ourselves and in our football.
“The key is to keep the pressure on for 90 minutes, to avoid silly mistakes and take advantage of our chances. Against such a good team, you cannot miss them.”
Pellegrini faces Barcelona having enjoy some success against the club during his decade in Spain coaching Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga. The Chilean has won four and drawn four of his 22 encounters with the blaugrana and he insists City will not compromise their attacking approach when they tackle Tata Martino’s team.
“The spirit of the team is OK and we will see on Tuesday the same team we see every week.” Pellegrini said. “I believe in a style of playing. It’s always very important that the fans like the way we play, but I think we can have both – to achieve important results and play in a style the fans enjoy."
“You can make changes, you can play in different ways,” said Pellegrini, but added that it was not worth setting out to defend with 11 men, because that would not be playing to his side’s strengths.
“It is a good test for us, it is important, but it isn’t the most important thing because we can beat Barcelona, but in next round you could have a defeat. This club is trying to develop in all areas. I think that, so far, we have had a good season and we must finish in the same way.
“One of our targets of course is to try to continue in the Champions League, knowing that we play against maybe the most important club in the world.”
Barcelona arrived in Manchester on Tuesday with a full-strength squad and with Messi having eclipsed Alfredo Di Stéfano in the La Liga goalscoring charts following his two goals in the 6-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano.
Messi’s presence in the Barcelona team remains the ace in their pack, but Pellegrini warns that focusing too heavily on stopping the Argentine could backfire on City.
“I have never seen Messi play badly. He’s either excellent or great. We hope to face the worst Messi – the great one. Without doubt, it is very difficult to stop Messi because he is the top player of the world. He has a lot of different qualities – speed, good balance, good finish – but I don’t think Barcelona is just Messi.
“You can have a lot of other players who will also decide the game as well so it’s important to play as a team defending and attacking.
“If you review their season, they have qualified in the Champions League, they are top of table in the Spanish league and are in the final of Copa del Rey, so they continue to be a very strong team.
“I am absolutely sure that, if we want to have a good result in the first leg, we must prepare a very good game.”
Manuel Pellegrini claims Manchester City will welcome Barcelona to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night as the ruling force in the city after insisting his club are now bigger than Manchester United.
With midfielder David Silva declaring that a Champions League victory over the Spanish champions would signal City’s “coming of age” on the international stage, Pellegrini’s hopes of masterminding a first-leg success have been boosted by the return to fitness of Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho following a thigh injury.
The encounter with Barcelona, City’s first competitive meeting with the Catalans, is likely to prove the sternest test of the home side’s prospects of completing an unprecedented quadruple this season.
But with the visit of Lionel Messi and Co falling almost 15 years to the day since City entertained Macclesfield Town in a League One fixture at Maine Road, Pellegrini claimed that the club’s recent rise under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan means they have now surpassed champions United to become the cream of Manchester.
“If we only consider this season, there is just one club in Manchester and it is ours,” Pellegrini said. “But you cannot forget what United has done in the previous years.
“We are aiming to keep growing by winning many trophies, not just national, but international trophies.
“We are fighting for four titles this year. We have to be patient because you cannot change the team from one day to another. But we have to keep the philosophy of the style and for that you need time.”
City’s recent rise to prominence is reflected by the fact that Barcelona’s four previous competitive visits to Manchester have all been to Old Trafford, where they have lost two and drawn two of their European encounters with United.
Barcelona’s only trip to the Etihad came in August 2003, when the club were opponents for the official opening of the stadium following City’s move from Maine Road. But while that fixture proved a landmark moment for the home team, who will be without the injured Sergio Agüero on Tuesday night, Spain international Silva believes the game carries far greater significance for City’s ambitions of becoming a global powerhouse.
“Beating Barcelona would be like a coming of age for Manchester City,” Silva said. “It is very important for our confidence and international recognition.
“Barcelona are the favourites. They have the history, the experience, and the best player in the world in Leo Messi. But of course we have an opportunity. We believe in ourselves and in our football.
“The key is to keep the pressure on for 90 minutes, to avoid silly mistakes and take advantage of our chances. Against such a good team, you cannot miss them.”
Pellegrini faces Barcelona having enjoy some success against the club during his decade in Spain coaching Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga. The Chilean has won four and drawn four of his 22 encounters with the blaugrana and he insists City will not compromise their attacking approach when they tackle Tata Martino’s team.
“The spirit of the team is OK and we will see on Tuesday the same team we see every week.” Pellegrini said. “I believe in a style of playing. It’s always very important that the fans like the way we play, but I think we can have both – to achieve important results and play in a style the fans enjoy."
“You can make changes, you can play in different ways,” said Pellegrini, but added that it was not worth setting out to defend with 11 men, because that would not be playing to his side’s strengths.
“It is a good test for us, it is important, but it isn’t the most important thing because we can beat Barcelona, but in next round you could have a defeat. This club is trying to develop in all areas. I think that, so far, we have had a good season and we must finish in the same way.
“One of our targets of course is to try to continue in the Champions League, knowing that we play against maybe the most important club in the world.”
Barcelona arrived in Manchester on Tuesday with a full-strength squad and with Messi having eclipsed Alfredo Di Stéfano in the La Liga goalscoring charts following his two goals in the 6-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano.
Messi’s presence in the Barcelona team remains the ace in their pack, but Pellegrini warns that focusing too heavily on stopping the Argentine could backfire on City.
“I have never seen Messi play badly. He’s either excellent or great. We hope to face the worst Messi – the great one. Without doubt, it is very difficult to stop Messi because he is the top player of the world. He has a lot of different qualities – speed, good balance, good finish – but I don’t think Barcelona is just Messi.
“You can have a lot of other players who will also decide the game as well so it’s important to play as a team defending and attacking.
“If you review their season, they have qualified in the Champions League, they are top of table in the Spanish league and are in the final of Copa del Rey, so they continue to be a very strong team.
“I am absolutely sure that, if we want to have a good result in the first leg, we must prepare a very good game.”
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