Barcelona vs Manchester City: Pep Guardiola will have to be at very best to get Nou Camp result, but his team are Prem’s elite
Ian Wright thinks Everton draw was a freak result and feels City can't afford to miss chances against Barca
LET’S not have any of this ‘Manchester City are in crisis’ nonsense — just because they’ve gone three games now without a win.
City are still clearly the best team in the country.
They had 72 per cent possession against Everton and made more than enough chances to have won comfortably.
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If you offered me odds against Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne both missing penalties in the same match, I’d be seriously out of pocket right now.
So you can pretty much dismiss the 1-1 draw at home to Everton as a freak result.
Having said that, I still fear for City at Barcelona in the Champions League tomorrow. Let’s face it, you would fear for any team going to the Nou Camp.
I know they’ve already lost twice in La Liga this term, including a rare home loss to Alaves.
But I’m convinced another European title is going to be their main focus this time, especially with Real Madrid winning it last season.
That always sticks in Barca’s throats and gives them extra motivation.
The way they smashed Celtic 7-0 then won away to Borussia Monchengladbach in their first two group matches strengthens my belief they will target the Champions League this year.
There was more urgency and intensity than they’ve been displaying in domestic games, although there was nothing wrong with the way they thumped Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 at the weekend.
It was pretty ominous from a City point of view to see Lionel Messi back after his groin injury and scoring as a second-half substitute.
He looked fit, hungry and you can bet all the Barca big boys will be up for this one.
Like I said, City are the best team in the Prem but they face arguably the best team in the world.
And although City should have beaten Everton, it was scary to see them cut open on the counter for Romelu Lukaku’s goal.
John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are good but a long way from the finished article.
If they are left unprotected with Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar bearing down on them, it could get ugly.
Those defenders will improve and in Aguero, De Bruyne and David Silva, boss Pep Guardiola has forwards who would not look out of place in any team.
He is also getting the best out of Raheem Sterling.
But City are probably still four or five stars short if Guardiola is to make them realistic Euro contenders.
The fact Hector Bellerin seems to be one of the players he has identified is worrying for me and Arsenal fans.
You never want to lose good players to your rivals, but City have a way of getting what they want — think Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.
You could say City have one thing in their favour because Pep is steeped in the Barcelona way. He will know just what to expect from them.
But knowing how Barca come at you and actually finding a way to counter it are two very different things.
Like Guardiola, Nou Camp chief Luis Enrique is a disciple of the Johan Cruyff method. Their style is perfect for their players because they are so technically gifted and are the best at what they do.
City will get few chances and can’t waste them as they did against Everton.
They also won’t get 70 per cent possession against Barca. So they must soak up pressure and hurt them on the counter as that is the only time they look vulnerable.
Guardiola will be spelling out the same blueprint to his players in the build-up — good luck with making it work!