Barcelona vs Manchester City preview - Title memories give City belief
Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2014 by PA
Captain Vincent Kompany will take inspiration from the dramatic title success of 2012 as Manchester City look to turn the tables on Barcelona.
City face a mountainous task as they bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit against the Spanish champions in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.
City, having reached this stage of the competition for the first time, have little European experience or precedent to draw inspiration from ahead of the clash.
But no-one connected with the club will have forgotten the way they struck twice in the closing minutes of the final game of the season two years ago to snatch the Barclays Premier League crown.
Those memories, Kompany believes, should give the team all the motivation they need.
The defender said: "It's one of those games where obviously everyone has to be at their best.
"You won't achieve anything if you have passengers but we have done it before performance-wise. That is what we are trying to get out of everyone tomorrow.
"Football is made out of nights like this, it is why you play football.
"It is a tough ask, but emotionally you won't really beat what we experienced on the day we beat QPR.
"If anything should give you belief about chasing lost causes it should be that day.
"I am really excited about this one and the whole team is the same.
"We will try to make the best of it. The motivation and the belief are still there."
Kompany, speaking at a pre-match press conference at the stadium, would not be drawn on suggestions Barca could be vulnerable after some indifferent recent results domestically.
Gerardo Martino's side slipped to third in La Liga last weekend as they were beaten 1-0 by relegation battlers Real Valladolid.
Despite this month's Capital One Cup triumph, City themselves have not been at their fluent best of late and on Sunday they slumped to a shock loss to Wigan in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Kompany said: "It goes quickly in football. Last week we won the first trophy of the season then we got beaten at home by Wigan.
"I guess whichever team wins will be on a high again but we will focus on our own game.
"I am looking to the strikers we have - (Sergio) Aguero, (Alvaro) Negredo, (Edin) Dzeko - that is what I want to focus on. We have firepower up front.
"If everything goes well we are capable of hurting Barcelona.
"I would say we have a chance to come here and we don't have anything to lose.
"It is all about that first goal. If we get the lead then I believe the dynamics of the game will change. I am convinced of that, but obviously it is one of the toughest places in the world to come and try to achieve something like this."
City will be without direction on the evening from manager Manuel Pellegrini as the Chilean begins a two-match touchline ban for his controversial comments about the referee after the first-leg loss.
Pellegrini took a training session at the Nou Camp but will be forbidden from making contact with players or his coaching staff after they arrive at the stadium for the game.
Pellegrini will be allowed to watch from the stands but will have to leave decisions to his coaching staff.
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino sent a defiant message to his critics as they turned up the heat ahead of his side's latest Champions League outing.
Martino is coming under increasing pressure over Barca's perceived poor form and fielded a host of probing questions as he met media to preview Wednesday's clash.
The Spanish champions have slipped to third in the Primera Division, four points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Their position seems healthy, especially as they are also through to the Copa del Rey final and will reach the Champions League quarter-finals if they finish off City.
But that has not stopped speculation over his future at the Nou Camp, where expectations are lofty after three European triumphs in the past eight years.
Martino, who took charge last summer, told reporters: "I always stay strong especially thinking of everything that lies ahead.
"I won't forget about the league, we have a cup final and we can reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
"If I wasn't upbeat I would change jobs.
"This team is brave and is motivated. We have not been consistent enough, but there's not a problem with motivation or performance.
"Barcelona have good enough players to aspire, every season, to win titles. These players will turn things around.
"They know what's expected, so I don't need extra motivation.
"We did make lots of mistakes against Valladolid but that isn't normal in this team."
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