Man City Have Nothing To Fear At Real Madrid - Pellegrini

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his side have nothing to fear in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, despite David Silva missing the game.

City, who are hoping to reach the final for the first time, drew Tuesday’s first leg 0-0 at Etihad Stadium.

Playmaker Silva will miss the second leg on 4 May with a hamstring problem.

“I don’t think Real are favourites,” Pellegrini said. “We are not afraid to go away to the Bernabeu.”

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Real are yet to concede a goal at home in the Champions League this season.

City did not manage a shot on target until stoppage time of the first leg, and their task against the 10-time European champions will be made harder by the absence of the Spaniard Silva, who limped off before half-time on Tuesday.

“David will not be fit next week,” said Pellegrini.

The Chilean is already set to be without midfielder Yaya Toure, who missed the first leg with a thigh problem, while another key attacking player, Samir Nasri, is not in their Champions League squad.

City, who play at Southampton in the Premier League at on Sunday, also have less recovery time than Real, who face Real Sociedad in La Liga at on Saturday.

“Unfortunately for us we have one day less rest than Real,” added Pellegrini. “We tried to change our game and it was impossible.

“But we trust in what we are going to do in Spain. The players believe in what we are doing and I am sure we will give everything we can in that game.

“Of course Real have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

“But, when we are away, we play very similar to the way we do at home and this season we have already had very good results playing away at Sevilla, Dynamo Kiev and Paris St-German.”

Pellegrini insisted that City have not missed their chance, despite failing to open up an advantage over a Real side that were without their superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester because of injury.

“They did not have Cristiano; we did not have Yaya. Karim Benzema played 45 minutes for them – the same as Silva, who is very important for us.

“It was a very close game where we tried from the beginning to win. We pressed high and recovered the ball very well but we were not creative and we did not create a clear chance to score.”

City keeper Joe Hart, who made two crucial saves at the end of Tuesday’s game, is also confident that England’s last remaining representatives in the Champions League can continue their progress in Spain.

“Bring it on. We are ready,” said the England international. “We have a brilliant squad who are coming to fruition. It is a big game next week, simple as.”

BBC

Man City Have Nothing To Fear At Real Madrid - Pellegrini

Hiring Of Pep Guardiola Hit Man City Title Bid - Pellegrini

The decision to replace Pellegrini with Guardiola was announced on February 1 and was followed by damaging back-to-back defeats to Leicester and Tottenham, which derailed their title bid.

City are coming back into form after reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and defeating Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but they have not been able to regain the initiative in the title race.

“For different reasons, we lost important games in February against Leicester and Tottenham,” Pellegrini said. “For me, they’re the two games that don’t allow us now to be involved in the title.

“In the start of February came the news about the change of the manager, telling the players I will not continue here next year. A lot of things that involve the minds of all the players.

“We had those defeats at home. Now I think we are stable again and I’m very happy to finish the way we are doing in these last games.”

Guardiola’s arrival will herald a new era for City, but it will also signal a shift in playing philosophy that will require a turnover in playing personnel.

These impending changes have not gone unnoticed by City’s existing players.

Yaya Toure’s agent expects the Ivorian to leave the club in the summer, while City are in “advanced talks” to sign Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund as a replacement.

Pellegrini admits the constant transfer speculation has put a strain on the squad but is confident his players can put that out of their head when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

“It’s not easy for the players when you read in newspapers all the things that will happen next season, all the players who will go out, all the players that will come in,” Pellegrini said.

“It’s not easy for the players to focus their mind. But this squad has a lot of character. We never give up.

“But I think the merit of this squad is always that it had a lot of character, personality. We never give up, we continue in the same way, and I hope we will see in the future in the Champions League. I am sure this team, playing in this way, can play in the final.”

Credit: Skysports

Hiring Of Pep Guardiola Hit Man City Title Bid - Pellegrini