Pellegrini primes City to tear into Paris
Monday, April 11, 2016
Article summary
"If we think we need to draw 0-0 tomorrow then I think we will lose," said Manuel Pellegrini, insisting a 2-2 first-leg draw would not stop City aiming to finish off Paris in Manchester.
Article top media content
Article body
- Manuel Pellegrini says City will not play for a draw despite away-goal advantage
- Vincent Kompany to miss out with a thigh problem
- Nicolás Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala expected to start in central defence for City
- Laurent Blanc says his side showed enough in 2-2 first-leg draw to feel confident
- Semi-final draw streamed live on UEFA.com from 12.00CET on Friday
Possible lineup
Manchester City: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Touré, Navas, De Bruyne, Silva; Agüero.
Out: Kompany (calf), Sterling (groin)
Doubtful: Touré (knee), Delph (ankle)
Misses next match if booked: Navas, Otamendi
Paris: Trapp; Maxwell, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Aurier; Rabiot, Thiago Motta, Stambouli; Di María, Ibrahimović, Cavani.
Out: Matuidi (suspended), David Luiz (suspended)
Doubtful: Verratti (groin), Pastore (calf)
Misses next match if booked: Aurier, Ibrahimović, Verratti
Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager
This [City] is a team that is prepared to score goals and a team that is prepared to play. If we think that we need to draw 0-0 then I think we will lose the game because this is not the way we normally play.
Every game is different. It doesn't matter what happened in other competitions here in England. It is important now that we play the second leg against PSG. We played a very equal game in Paris, and we demonstrated that we can continue with the performance in Paris.
The media didn't think we had any chance to continue but we have demonstrated there [in the first leg] that we have the same level as Paris.
Laurent Blanc, Paris coach
We've looked at some of the errors we made in the first leg, particularly defensively: we weren't compact enough. There was too much space for Manchester City and with the players they have going forward they are always going to cause you problems.
We need to perform at the highest possible level, certainly higher than the first game. We didn't have a fantastic game last week and we need to be a bit more efficient but if we create as many chances as we did last week I'm pretty sure we will score more. We need to impose ourselves.
At the end of the first leg the players realised that perhaps we missed out. We could have put ourselves in a better position. When you look at the chances we created I think we had a fair few – we also missed a penalty. It means they have the advantage of away goals and now it's simple: we have to score one more than Manchester City.
Weekend results
Manchester City 2-1 West Brom (Agüero 19, Nasri 66; Sessegnon 6)
Making his first start since September, following a long struggle with a thigh injury, Samir Nasri scored City's winner on a rainy evening in Manchester, finishing into an empty net after Sergio Agüero's shot was blocked. The UEFA Champions League contenders had gone behind to a sweet Stéphane Sessegnon effort, but the goalscorer then gave away the penalty from which Agüero equalised – the Argentinian's 18th Premier League goal of the season.
Guingamp 0-2 Paris (Lucas 56pen 71)
Laurent Blanc rested the majority of his first-team players, but still came away with three points. Lucas converted from the penalty spot on 56 minutes after a foul on Christopher Nkunku, and scored a second from Layvin Kurzawa's pass. Of more concern, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was taken off at the break with an injury, Salvatore Sirigu brought on to replace him.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
City: WDWLDD
Paris: WDWLWW
Reporter's view: Paul Saffer (@UEFAcomPaulS)
The first leg was chaotic to say the least, but having escaped with a draw and two away goals, and with the suspensions of David Luiz and Blaise Matuidi, City undoubtedly have the advantage. Then again their home form has been pretty erratic this term, not only in the Premier League but also in this competition – where, for example, they seemed to be heading for victory against Juventus only to lose 2-1. Neither Zlatan Ibrahimović nor Agüero fired in Paris, so perhaps they key will be which finds their form on Tuesday.
Did you know?
City have won all six ties in UEFA competition in which they drew the away first leg, including two where the first scoreline was 2-2. Find out more in our extensive match background.