We can beat Barcelona says Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini believes his team are in a better position to beat Barcelona than they were a year ago.
The English champions take on the Catalan giants in the last 16 of the Champions League for a second season in succession.
The Premier League winners were beaten 4-1 on aggregate 12 months ago but, as they prepare for the opening leg of their latest contest at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Pellegrini is positive.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference, Pellegrini said: "I think that last year was different to this year. We arrived at this stage of the Champions League after playing 19 games in two months, and I don't think it was our best moment. But I hope this year we will do it after not playing so many games. I think that our team is in a good moment, although we also recognise we are going to be playing against a very strong team."
City's progress to the knockout stages this season - for only the second time - was far from straightforward.
They collected just two points from their opening four group games and needed dramatic back-to-back wins over Bayern Munich and Roma to pull through.
The English champions take on the Catalan giants in the last 16 of the Champions League for a second season in succession.
The Premier League winners were beaten 4-1 on aggregate 12 months ago but, as they prepare for the opening leg of their latest contest at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Pellegrini is positive.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference, Pellegrini said: "I think that last year was different to this year. We arrived at this stage of the Champions League after playing 19 games in two months, and I don't think it was our best moment. But I hope this year we will do it after not playing so many games. I think that our team is in a good moment, although we also recognise we are going to be playing against a very strong team."
City's progress to the knockout stages this season - for only the second time - was far from straightforward.
They collected just two points from their opening four group games and needed dramatic back-to-back wins over Bayern Munich and Roma to pull through.
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