Manuel Pellegrini says he has no choice but to trust Manchester City’s heavily criticised defence after the considerable setback of losing Vincent Kompany from their Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Pellegrini admitted it was a damaging blow to go into the game without Kompany but the manager said it was “not possible” to expect the club captain to make his comeback from a month out with a recurrence of his calf problems.
Nicolás Otamendi was unable to train because of a twisted ankle he sustained in the win against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday but Pellegrini expects the Argentinian to be passed fit, meaning City will not have to bring Martín Demichelis back into the centre of defence for the first time since he was so badly exposed in the Manchester derby. Eliaquim Mangala seems certain to start and Pellegrini is acutely aware his team need to defend more resolutely than has been the case for most of the season. “We have to have a lot of trust in the squad,” he said.
“We are always talking, seeing and working with all the defenders. Maybe they made some mistakes in the last game against PSG but I trust they will play in the level that means they can do it.”
Kompany was able to train with the rest of the squad but the Belgian, according to Pellegrini, was still “not 100%” as he recovers from the fourth injury in the same area of his leg this season. “I am confident in my defence as they have played a lot of games in the Premier League and Champions League, and if we have reached this stage it is because we have a good defence,” the manager said. “I trust 100% in the players who can play. ”
City’s 2-2 draw in the first leg in Paris put them in a position of strength because of the away-goal rule – only 20.6% of teams have recovered from PSG’s position in Uefa club competitions – but Pellegrini is anticipating a difficult night. “I think the most important aspect is to score,” he said.
“We have been working here for three years and I always have the same answer. We are prepared to score goals. If we prepare to play 0-0 I think we will lose, so you will see the same team you have seen in the last two and a half seasons.”
