Manuel Pellegrini has defiantly stated that Manchester City have nothing to fear after being handed a daunting clash with Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Citizens welcome Barca to the Etihad on Feburary 18 before making the trip to the Nou Camp on March 12.
Despite claiming the trophy on three of the last seven occasions, the La Liga leaders are now a more vulnerable side according to Pellegrini, who sees no reason why his side cannot triumph.
“Barcelona are not the team they were two years ago,” the Chilean said.
“I think it is a beautiful game with two very good teams. For me it would have been exactly the same [whoever we would have drawn] so we will see in February which team arrives in the best [shape].”
Confidence at City is high after their 3-2 comeback victory against current holders Bayern Munich meaning goal difference was all that denied them top spot in Group D.
The Catalans meanwhile finished four-points clear of AC Milan in their group – which also contained Ajax and Celtic – the first ever to contain four previous winners.
The tie also brings together two of Argentinian superstars in Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi but Pellegrini was quick to remind fans that there will be twenty other players on the pitch.
“It is not only Messi and Agüero. The two teams have top players and we will see which play better in that round of the Champions League. But that is in February. We will worry about that later,” he said.
Image courtesy of MCFC Official, with thanks
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
