Yaya Touré must curb his attacking instincts to keep out Lionel Messi and friends
Four key factors for Manchester City if they are to beat Barcelona in their Champions League clash of giants at the Etihad Stadium
1. Yaya Touré must show discipline
Manuel Pellegrini’s much-discussed preference for playing 4-4-2 will face the
stiffest of tests against a team without equal when it comes to dominating
the middle ground.
The Manchester City manager, I am sure, will be praying Fernandinho is fit to
resume his partnership with Yaya Touré.
Touré would be well advised to rein in his attacking instincts by working with
Fernandinho to close down the space in front of the back four. Because
should gaps start to open up 30 yards out, you know that Lionel Messi and
friends will have their way.
2. Do not depend on Martin Demichelis
Another concern for Pellegrini is the identity of Vincent Kompany’s sidekick
in central defence. With Matija Nastasic missing the last few games, it may
be that Martin Demichelis once again gets the nod.
This could be dangerous given the Argentine’s wont for straying out of position when attracted to the ball and diving in to leave a hole behind. That is obviously the last thing you want against opponents of this calibre.
If selected, Demichelis must keep his discipline next to Kompany, knowing that Alexis Sánchez loves to duck in from the right to try and get behind the left-sided centre-half.
As a result, a large onus rests on the visiting centre-halves, on the likes of Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol or Marc Bartra to deal with the threat of their big and powerful opponents.
After all, Kompany, Touré, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko can give anyone problems when the ball is right.
Negredo does tend to drift naturally across to the left side and his manager should do nothing to discourage this move seeing as Barça’s likely right-back, Dani Alves, plays more like a right winger than a defender.
If he does find some space in that pocket, or even drag out a centre-half, Negredo is more than capable of slipping in someone like David Silva, always on the lookout for those runs from deep.Per The Telegraph
This could be dangerous given the Argentine’s wont for straying out of position when attracted to the ball and diving in to leave a hole behind. That is obviously the last thing you want against opponents of this calibre.
If selected, Demichelis must keep his discipline next to Kompany, knowing that Alexis Sánchez loves to duck in from the right to try and get behind the left-sided centre-half.
3. City must make corners count
Barça’s weakness at defending set pieces is usually cited when looking
for chinks in their formidable armoury. It is true that Gerardo Martino’s
side are not as well equipped as some to compete in the air when good
crosses swing in.
As a result, a large onus rests on the visiting centre-halves, on the likes of Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol or Marc Bartra to deal with the threat of their big and powerful opponents.
After all, Kompany, Touré, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko can give anyone problems when the ball is right.
4. Use the space behind Dani Alves
On the subject of Negredo, if Sergio Agüero does not make it, as seems likely,
the big Spaniard can still make his mark at the sharp end of City’s attack.
Negredo does tend to drift naturally across to the left side and his manager should do nothing to discourage this move seeing as Barça’s likely right-back, Dani Alves, plays more like a right winger than a defender.
If he does find some space in that pocket, or even drag out a centre-half, Negredo is more than capable of slipping in someone like David Silva, always on the lookout for those runs from deep.Per The Telegraph
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