Kompany relishes City's 'lost cause'

Manchester City FC may be going to FC Barcelona on Wednesday with a 2-0 deficit that they must overturn in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie but skipper Vincent Kompany says: "In my opinion nothing is better than chasing a lost cause."

City lost a home first leg in Europe for only the second time three weeks ago – the first having been against FC Midtjylland in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup second qualifying round, when the English club turned the tie in Denmark and prevailed on penalties. Barcelona at Camp Nou is a different matter, but Kompany's side scored two added-time goals to win the 2011/12 Premier League so anything is possible for the Belgium defender.

"It's in our own hands," the 27-year-old said. "We have to do a job tomorrow. If we lose it's because they were better than us and if we win it means we were better than them. The message is that we have to believe, not just for ourselves but for the 5,000 fans travelling tomorrow. That's what we have to believe in, it's our job to believe."

Barcelona's recent dip in form, however, is not giving Kompany any comfort. "It's tricky," the centre-back said. "You focus and think you have a chance and then the beast wakes up. [But] anything can happen in football. A surprise can also happen tomorrow."

Thinking back to the first leg, Kompany mused: "We watched the game so we know what happened. It was comfortable until we were down to ten men and it became a difficult task. At times we showed we were capable of matching them but I was disappointed. This is our last chance to show how good we are."

There is certainly no greater motivation. "I am excited about this match, the whole team is," continued the former RSC Anderlecht and Hamburger SV player. "In my opinion nothing is better than chasing a lost cause. The belief is there."