Manchester City’s demolition of Newcastle United was followed by Vincent Kompany sending a bullish message to Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez before Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Barcelona.
The Catalan club knocked City out of the competition at the same last-16 stage last year but the captain shrugged when asked about Barça’s three world-class forwards.
“Fear? We don’t fear them. You don’t go in at this level fearing strikers. We want to play against them. It’s the fourth time in a year now,” Kompany said as the squad prepare for the first leg at the Etihad Stadium. “There’s nothing new to worry us, it’s a case of having the whole team at a very high level. They’re a special team with special players, of course.”
The defender went further, claiming that Stoke City, who City beat 4-1 in their last away trip, can be more difficult opponents. “Their [Barcelona’s] ability is not about hurting you all game – you can have tougher games when you go to Stoke City. It’s about the fact they can decide a game within a second. They have more players than anyone else in the world who can finish games with a touch of magic.”
Last season City went down 4-1 on aggregate to Barca, losing the opening leg at the Etihad 2-0. Of what that result may mean, Kompany said: “You play top teams every season and it’s unpredictable. You hope that on your day you can beat them but I think it’s the same for us as it is for them.”
City are yet to defeat a continental heavyweight club in the Champions League when the opponents needed victory. Asked if there is a determination to prove they can do so, Kompany said: “Our team has been proving our determination in recent years. That’s one thing when you look back on this team in the future you will never be able to say we did not have. We’ve always come back.
“We’re putting in a fight again for the Premier League – you saw that [against Newcastle]. And we’ll put in a fight for the Champions League too. The history of this club tells you that in the past six years we always keep progressing.”
Within two minutes of kick-off it appeared set to be the longest of days for John Carver’s side in a contest that had Yaya Touré, back from Africa Cup of Nations duty, running proceedings.
Edin Dzeko won a penalty following Vurnon Anita’s clumsy challenge which Sergio Agüero coolly slotted and they were coasting. Goals from Samir Nasri and Dzeko – his first since 27 September – had City leading 3-0 at the interval. David Silva’s double early in the second half meant the Spaniard could be removed on 59 minutes and after Wilfried Bony, the £25m signing, came on for his debut the failure to finish when through on Tim Krul’s goal hardly mattered.
Carver, refreshingly, pointed the finger at his team for their weak effort. “It’s frustrating but you can only show them and talk about what they will do. I cannot get on the pitch and do anything about it,” he said. “I’m going to take lots of responsibility for what’s happened and players have to take it. Some of the players have taken that responsibility.”
With Barcelona losing 1-0 to Málaga, top-of-the-table Chelsea drawing with Burnley, and Manchester United losing at Swansea, this was a perfect day for the champions. Now, they hope Tuesday will be the perfect evening.
Man of the match Yaya Touré (Man City)
