City clutching at straws against Bayern
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Article summary
Roberto Mancini is hoping Manchester City FC can seize their "30% chance" of advancing against FC Bayern München, who are eager to win the battle of the English and German league leaders.
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Roberto Mancini acknowledges Manchester City FC have "made mistakes" in their maiden UEFA Champions League group stage campaign, but hopes his side will get another chance to impress in the round of 16 as they take on Group A leaders FC Bayern München needing a win and SSC Napoli to drop points at Villarreal CF.
Manchester City
Manager Roberto Mancini
I always knew it'd be a difficult group, ever since the draw was made, but we've made mistakes. A team like us can't afford to lose two of their five games. That said, I never say never and we'll focus on trying to beat Bayern and see what happens.
If we go through we can cause big problems for the other teams, but it's a big 'if' at the moment. In my view, we've got about a 30% chance. If we win and Napoli don't beat Villarreal then it'll be a big moment for us as a club. I think we're a better team than Napoli, but you can't say that because they beat us in Naples and if they win in Villarreal they'll have deserved to go through.
I don't think anyone plays to lose in the Champions League. Villarreal have lost all of their five games so it's important for them to try and win this final match. But we need to focus on doing our own job and if Villarreal can get a result too then great. If not we'll go into the Europa League and we'll try and win that.
Weekend result
• Saturday: Manchester City 5-1 Norwich City FC (Agüero 32, Nasri 51, Y Touré 68, Balotelli 88, Johnson 90+1; Morison 81)
Hart; Richards, Kompany, K Touré, Clichy; Silva, Y Touré, Barry; Nasri (Johnson 69), Agüero (Balotelli 72), Džeko (De Jong 82)
• City stayed clear at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable home win, the fourth time this season in all competitions they have scored five or more goals in a game. City have won 12 successive Premier League home games.
Team news
Mancini believes Aleksandar Kolarov (groin) will be out "for the next two or three weeks", and while he expects Pablo Zabaleta to be fit, he said Micah Richards "is probably a bigger doubt due to a calf problem and may not be able to play".
Bayern
Coach Jupp Heynckes
This is a big match between teams who are leaders of their respective leagues – that is always a matter of prestige. City were very good for first 20 minutes in Munich, but after that we took control and dominated. To be successful you need to play in the Champions League for some time; you need to collect both positive and negative experiences.
We respect City: just look at what they're doing in the English league. This game is all about two teams who respect each other. City still have a chance of progressing, but obviously it's not just down to them – it depends on what happens in Villarreal too. One thing's for sure, my team will be playing to win.
Weekend result
• Saturday: Bayern 4-1 SV Werder Bremen (Ribéry 22 77, Robben 69pen 83pen; Rosenberg 52)
Neuer; Boateng, Badstuber, Van Buyten, Lahm; Kroos, Luiz Gustavo; T Müller (Contento 90+1), Alaba (Robben 60), Ribéry (Pranjić 90+1); Gomez
• Bayern's first win in three Bundesliga outings was enough to take them back to the summit after the two teams above them, Borussia Dortmund and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, drew 1-1. Bremen's Aaron Hunt was sent off with nine minutes remaining.
Team news
Bastian Schweinsteiger (collarbone) is out but Breno (knee) is back in training. Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos have been ruled out with flu, with Thomas Müller and Mario Gomez suffering from the same illness.
Match fact
City last played German visitors in April 2009, beating Hamburger SV 2-1 in a UEFA Cup quarter-final tie they lost on away goals. Of their starting lineup only Vincent Kompany, Nedum Onuoha, Richards and Zabaleta are in City's UEFA Champions League squad; Jérôme Boateng and Ivica Olić featured for Hamburg.