Manchester City are one of the fastest growing sporting teams over the past ten years and are still going from strength to strength. Ever since their move from Maine Road to the Etihad Stadium, the vision of the club to be considered one of the best in world has worked extremely well.
Like every City fan knows, being a Citizen was, and can still be, a rollercoaster ride. The phrase going ‘one step forward and two steps back’ was perfectly associated with the Sky Blues.
But now with two Premier League titles under their belt aswell as an FA Cup, Capital One Cup and FA Community Shield since Sheikh Mansour took over the Manchester club in 2009 things are looking rosy. Yet one key element missing for Manuel Pellegrini’s side is success in a European competition. However, good they are in the league, when it comes to playing their football across Europe, they seem to crumble.
Nevertheless, for Manchester City to be in the same calibre as the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, a successful European campaign is fundamental for everyone associated with the club. Taking a minor step back in the Premier League could be the answer for them to finally lift their inaugural Champions League trophy. With the quality of players Pellegrini has, rotation in his team selection for both European and League matches is possible and it’s realistic enough to clinch the double this season.
Despite having their Champions League squad selection cut to 21 players due to breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, this could be City’s best chance of clinching their first Champions League title. This year has seen City spend less, but have still brought in important players. Willy Caballero, Eliaquim Mangala, Frank Lampard and Fernando have all been brought in to bolster their chances of more success after their tight title win last year. However, these three players have all played in the Europa League aswell as the Champions League for Malaga, Chelsea and FC Porto respectively. Their experience will be valuable when playing on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.
Last season’s Champions League campaign saw them dumped out in the last 16 against Spanish giants FC Barcelona. One little crumb of comfort for them was an impressive 3-2 away at Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. In the 2012/2013 season, under the management of Roberto Mancini, they failed to get of the first phase and were winless in the ‘group of death’ that contained Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax. After Tottenham Hotspur beat them to fourth spot in the 2012/2011 season, City went into the Europa League, and were dumped out in the last 16 by Dynamo Kiev.
Even before the cash flow started Manchester City’s dominance, in 2003 failed to reach the UEFA Cup group stages, losing a qualifier to Polish side Dyskobolia Grodzisk. It seems that when it comes to the European stage, City’s history has not been glorious and this year won’t be any easier with their group containing FC Bayern Munich, Russian side CSKA Moscow and Italian giants AS Roma. This is Manchester City’s time to show that they can cut it with the best and they have every chance of going all the way in the road to Berlin.
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