For those of you who have indulged in Football Manager over the years will, I’m sure, be giving your own views as to how Manchester City should be going about tackling Barcelona tonight. They will be in a bout with some of the biggest players on the planet and will need to stay disciplined in order to take any hope to the Nou Camp in the second leg. With that in mind, should Manuel Pellegrini set his side up to hit the La Liga giants on the break, or should they go all out attack and hope they can find a way through?
Well, Pablo Zabaleta, City’s right-back, thinks that they should play to their strengths and attack the Spaniards.
He said: “It’s important we stick to our game, that we go on the attack because we have attacking players.”
I think he’s right, too. City have a wealth of attacking players and should be eyeing Barcelona as the weaker opponents. City’s home form has been remarkably strong this season – they have scored 74 goals in 20 games at the Etihad, and I firmly believe they should be taking the game to the away side, regardless of their superstars.
It’s easier said than done, of course. But there is enough quality in the City ranks and I feel if they sit back against the likes of Iniesta, Xavi and Messi then they could get punished.
I agree with Zabaleta – City fans, do you?