In fairness, though this is not a complete excuse, a lot has been said about the bad luck City have suffered when it comes to the Champions League draws they have received. In the last four years they have been drawn alongside the runners-up twice and a semi-finalist, and only once have they been among the favourites to emerge from their group. This particularly stark when we compare their misfortune in draws to Chelsea's opening few draws in the Champions League (2003-2006):
Another key aspect to think about is the fact that City have struggled to break down teams who come to the Etihad to defend and counter i.e. good defensive performances. In City's very first Champions League game, City kept good possession against Napoli, but were unable to break through. Frustration eventually took its toll, causing sloppy play and eventually a goal for Edinson Cavani on the counter. They clearly haven't learnt their lessons, as the Roma game was almost a carbon copy of this. Ironically, City tend to perform better when they are the defensive side, with some of their best performances in the Champions League coming away from home. Victories against CSKA Moscow and Villareal and narrow defeats against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have all showed promise, but demonstrate the very different teams they should use for home and away games.
Manchester City Chelsea
2011 - Bayern Munich, Villareal, Napoli 2003 - Sparta Prague, Besiktas, Lazio
2012 - Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax 2004 - Porto, CSKA Moscow, PSG
2013 - Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, V. Plzen 2005 - Liverpool, Real Betis, Anderlecht
2014 - Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AS Roma 2006 - Barcelona, Werder Bremen, Levski Sofia
As you can see from the two draws, on only one occasion (2004) can Chelsea claim to have had as difficult a group as City, but it is also worth bearing in mind that Paris Saint Germain were not the European force that they are now, and as a result finished bottom of the group that year with just one point. Other than that, Chelsea have had a fairly simple journey to the last 16 as group winners, giving them a preferable draw going forward. On the other hand, on the one occasion City did make it out of their group, their second place finish meant they were paired with a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona - hardly an easy task!
However, the draw alone should not be to blame. In order to win Europe's premier competition, you have to be prepared to beat the best, whether that is in your group or in the final. So what has been the cause of City's abject failure in Europe? As any player that has been involved in cup matches can attest to, individual errors can have a catastrophic effect on a team's continued involvement. We can certainly see evidence of this from City here. Joe Hart's indifferent form in Europe was most obviously epitomised by his errors during City's home tie against Bayern Munich in 2013, which saw the Blues concede a pair of goals from handling errors, losing the game 3-1. City's front line has also been accused of mis-firing in Europe, with Edin Dzeko often singled out for punishment.
However, it is the current season's City scapegoat that has got my back up most. The reason for this is very simple. On every channel that provides live football there is an ex (and usually bitter) Red passing comment on City's performances - is that fair? I can't imagine Liam Gallagher turning up at Old Trafford to cover the United game for Sky, any more than seeing Shaun Goater do the commentary for Sky. However, while Michael Owen simply makes self-evident statements for BT Sport, Roy Keane berates everyone (not just City) for ITV, and Gary Neville, to his credit, has attempted to become more impartial in his work for Sky Sports, it is Paul Scholes' attempt at punditry for ITV that most irritates me.
Scholes' comments on Yaya Toure's lack of form earlier this season were perhaps a little harsh, particularly considering that the Ivorian had been the first midfielder to score 20 goals in a Premier League season since Frank Lampard in 2010, but he is entitled to his opinion, and were generally fair. However, since then he has made additional comments on the midfielder's performances, before again berating the City man in his punditry. What's the saying? Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, but three times is deliberate.
There is a part of me that looks at this through cynical eyes. As a self-confessed United fan, Scholes would likely do anything to de-stabilise one of their greatest rivals, particularly if he is jealous of their success at present. With the majority of City's key names like Kompany, Silva and Aguero starting the season in excellent form, it is Yaya Toure that is yet to hit the heights we saw from him last year. He is therefore an easy target, and a way to try and put pressure on the Manchester City midfield. Let us not forget, Scholes is a man who almost attempted to stab Pablo Zabaleta with his studs in his last derby match - he is hardly likely to be the epitome of impartiality. So let's all just take his words with a pinch of salt, eh?
After my customary mid-blog rant, back onto the reasons behind City's failings in Europe. I think some of the blame has to be directed at the manager, particularly on the way that City's sides in Europe have been set up. The game against Roma was a prime example. It is almost like both Pellegrini and Mancini before him thought that because they tend to blow away teams at the Etihad in the Premier League, they will automatically do that in the Champions League. As we have seen, this is not the case. The attacking 4-4-2 formation that has tended to be employed has left City woefully exposed on the counter attack, which we saw time and time again against Roma, and with neither Navas nor Toure willing to chase back, the defence were left short on numerous occasions.
However, the draw alone should not be to blame. In order to win Europe's premier competition, you have to be prepared to beat the best, whether that is in your group or in the final. So what has been the cause of City's abject failure in Europe? As any player that has been involved in cup matches can attest to, individual errors can have a catastrophic effect on a team's continued involvement. We can certainly see evidence of this from City here. Joe Hart's indifferent form in Europe was most obviously epitomised by his errors during City's home tie against Bayern Munich in 2013, which saw the Blues concede a pair of goals from handling errors, losing the game 3-1. City's front line has also been accused of mis-firing in Europe, with Edin Dzeko often singled out for punishment.
However, it is the current season's City scapegoat that has got my back up most. The reason for this is very simple. On every channel that provides live football there is an ex (and usually bitter) Red passing comment on City's performances - is that fair? I can't imagine Liam Gallagher turning up at Old Trafford to cover the United game for Sky, any more than seeing Shaun Goater do the commentary for Sky. However, while Michael Owen simply makes self-evident statements for BT Sport, Roy Keane berates everyone (not just City) for ITV, and Gary Neville, to his credit, has attempted to become more impartial in his work for Sky Sports, it is Paul Scholes' attempt at punditry for ITV that most irritates me.
Scholes' comments on Yaya Toure's lack of form earlier this season were perhaps a little harsh, particularly considering that the Ivorian had been the first midfielder to score 20 goals in a Premier League season since Frank Lampard in 2010, but he is entitled to his opinion, and were generally fair. However, since then he has made additional comments on the midfielder's performances, before again berating the City man in his punditry. What's the saying? Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, but three times is deliberate.
There is a part of me that looks at this through cynical eyes. As a self-confessed United fan, Scholes would likely do anything to de-stabilise one of their greatest rivals, particularly if he is jealous of their success at present. With the majority of City's key names like Kompany, Silva and Aguero starting the season in excellent form, it is Yaya Toure that is yet to hit the heights we saw from him last year. He is therefore an easy target, and a way to try and put pressure on the Manchester City midfield. Let us not forget, Scholes is a man who almost attempted to stab Pablo Zabaleta with his studs in his last derby match - he is hardly likely to be the epitome of impartiality. So let's all just take his words with a pinch of salt, eh?
After my customary mid-blog rant, back onto the reasons behind City's failings in Europe. I think some of the blame has to be directed at the manager, particularly on the way that City's sides in Europe have been set up. The game against Roma was a prime example. It is almost like both Pellegrini and Mancini before him thought that because they tend to blow away teams at the Etihad in the Premier League, they will automatically do that in the Champions League. As we have seen, this is not the case. The attacking 4-4-2 formation that has tended to be employed has left City woefully exposed on the counter attack, which we saw time and time again against Roma, and with neither Navas nor Toure willing to chase back, the defence were left short on numerous occasions.
Another key aspect to think about is the fact that City have struggled to break down teams who come to the Etihad to defend and counter i.e. good defensive performances. In City's very first Champions League game, City kept good possession against Napoli, but were unable to break through. Frustration eventually took its toll, causing sloppy play and eventually a goal for Edinson Cavani on the counter. They clearly haven't learnt their lessons, as the Roma game was almost a carbon copy of this. Ironically, City tend to perform better when they are the defensive side, with some of their best performances in the Champions League coming away from home. Victories against CSKA Moscow and Villareal and narrow defeats against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have all showed promise, but demonstrate the very different teams they should use for home and away games.
My Manchester City Champions League home team (4-2-3-1)
Hart, Clichy, Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Lampard, Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aguero
My Manchester City Champions League away team (4-2-3-1)
Hart, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Milner, Aguero
So what are City's prospects going forward? Until they get a bit of luck, either with the draw or refereeing decisions, they are unlikely to progress much further. Confidence among the squad for European games seems at an all time low. Once they have got themselves into the quarter finals or beyond for the first time, they may have a chance. However, until then, Yaya Toure's quote of 'winning it for the fans' seems a million miles away.
Hart, Clichy, Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Lampard, Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aguero
My Manchester City Champions League away team (4-2-3-1)
Hart, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Milner, Aguero
So what are City's prospects going forward? Until they get a bit of luck, either with the draw or refereeing decisions, they are unlikely to progress much further. Confidence among the squad for European games seems at an all time low. Once they have got themselves into the quarter finals or beyond for the first time, they may have a chance. However, until then, Yaya Toure's quote of 'winning it for the fans' seems a million miles away.
