Being dumped out of the Champions League has not made it significantly easier for City to end a 42-year wait for another European trophy.
Pablo Zabaleta says he could barely believe the quality of the teams left in the Europa League when the Blues ended up in UEFA’s second-tier tournament.
And naturally, given the way the Blues have developed a knack this season of landing the toughest of draws in cup competitions, they begin in the round of 32 against holders Porto.
With neighbours United, and established European names like Valencia, Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Lazio and PSV Eindhoven all in the mix, City have a tough task just reaching the later stages, especially as their priority has to be the Premier League.
Even if they dump out the holders, they face another difficult tie against the winners of Sporting Lisbon v Legia Warsaw.
But with the two legs against Porto uninterrupted by a league game – while the Portuguese side face a Sunday clash inbetween – City have a rare advantage over European opposition, and a little breathing space before they resume the race for the league title.
Manager Roberto Mancini is threatening to field a strong side in Portugal tonight, insisting that the Toure brothers fly straight to meet up with the squad in Porto after their African Nations Cup exertions.
The manager intends to take each game on its merits in terms of team selection and he can afford to field some of his stars tonight to give City a strong position for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.
Some fans would be happy for the Blues to exit the competition to devote themselves entirely to the league, but Zabaleta said there is no thought of that among the players.
“We know the Europa League is a very good competition,” said the Argentine defender. “Look at the teams in it, and it is like a Champions League – it will be very hard.
“It is a great chance to win another trophy, but Porto is a match where we will have to play very well to try to get a result away, then try to win at home. It will be really hard, but we can beat them.”
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With United also in the competition, fans of both teams wonder how the extra games, and the inconvenience of shifting Saturday games to Sunday will impact on the title race.
The Reds are trying to crank up the heat on City, on the field and off it. After beating Liverpool last week, United striker Wayne Rooney said that the Reds have shown they can handle the pressure – leaving it in the air as to whether City can match them.
“We have shown character with that,” Zabaleta said. “This group of players are very strong – when United play before you, and they beat Liverpool, it brings pressure to get back to the top of the league.
“But we play with that character, and always show that as a group and as a team we are very solid. At this moment we have to know that this is our personality, to carry on.
“There are 13 games to the end of the season and now we have to focus on the Europa League, but if we play like we did on Sunday it is difficult for other teams to beat City.
Fight
“The best way to show United that we are very strong is on the pitch. They know we will fight for the title to the end. It all depends on us – it is in our hands and we are happy about that.
“It’s very interesting, the race between the two Manchester teams will be like that until the end of the season, but we just have to show that we are really strong,” said Zabaleta.
“We don’t have to prove anything to them, just play our own way, to win for ourselves.
“I have been in Manchester for four years, and can see our staff and players, and the club, growing, and it’s great to be one of the top teams in the Premier League.”
And the Argentine defender said that the way City had eked out a 1-0 win at Villa the day after United’s win over Liverpool showed they have what it takes to go all the way.
“We know we have to win all the games away especially against teams from the middle and the bottom,” he said.
“And sometimes that is really hard because they play very strong, or with long balls.
“The key is to win all of these games. The top teams in the Premier League all drop points, but the most important thing in winning the title is to win the games against these teams.” Tweet
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A good Pro. We have the chance of a double, and in doing so we will have to do it the hard way. So City. Not for us the easy ties but in the end it will be all teh sweeter
So Shrek has scored a couple of goals and he is now locked in his TWIT er room spouting off again and agian and again. When refs are sending off your opposition for world class tackles and awarding a couple of softer than soft pens per match in your teams favor its easy to gob off. REALLY HOPE WE ANNIHILATE THE RAGS AT OUR GROUND JUST TO SHUT THEM UP FOR A WHILE. IS IT ME OR ARE THE NEIGHBOURS GETTING NOISY AGAIN.
was,nt this comp one of those not worth the hassle of winning not so long ago oh how the mighty have fallen still have the champs league teams got better thus making the ropey league more attractive to sponsors/advertisers etc by the so called europeon elite big boys suddenly joinning in the later stages answers on a
why does this article need to mention Man ure?
I hope Zabby stays to reach his testimonial in 6 more years, what a guy!
Spot on with the comments Pablo. Too many times in the past we have gone away to a lesser team and trod on the banana skin, whilst nearly always putting up a good display against the top clubs. Concentration has to be the key, we have the squad to do it. IMO our next tricky away match is Norwich, because I think we have more than enough to see off Swansea. By the time that comes around our fixtures will be in single figures and it should be a two horse race by then with the rags having to face Spurs. The momentum for us should be gathering pace nicely next month and providing we can keep it together, without any silly suspensions the title is ours to lose.
Why can't all Argentines be like Zab and Kun?
150%ers oozing with class and Mr Nice Guys.
Talk about give a Dog a bad name!
You have to love Zabba, not the most talented in the squad but would walk through walls for the team! Did an amazing job against Walcott in the Arsenal game and was argubably MOM against Spurs!
Tonight it looks as though Ya Ya and Mario will be back, I am expecting at least a draw and certainly an away goal.
Porto vs City is actually a better quality game than some of the last 16 ties in the CL - still a shame we got 10 points and some teams went thru with less...........but hey ho!
I know that City would certanly not have shipped 4 at Milan last night and Vinnie would put Zlatan in his pocket. You give Robbie space like that and he will hurt you, he also has a history of scoring against the sorry gooners- that result wasn't a shock to me. It will aslo be interesting to see how Chelski fair against Napoli CTID
Totally agree with Zabba, any trophy won in Europe helps to gain higher ranking. Last year the other lot were gloating about us playing" Thursday Night Football", now it seems that they will be trying their hardest to win the Europa as this is a Trophy they have never won, what a bunch of Hypocrits including the old man himself who has said he is " looking forward to being in the Final". Iguess now that we have Tevezgate starting again it is taking pressure off Everard and his "over excuberence" which is being swept under the carpet and nothing on the non handshake from Wio, talk about short memories these two were the first to complain about Mario in the Semi-Final last season!!!!