Mancini’s tired City take Europa trip to Kiev
- By A.D. Winn on March 9, 2011 22:18 GMT
Manchester City continue their European adventure by visiting the Lobanovsky stadium, home of Dynamo Kiev, in the next round of the Europa League.
The Citizens haven’t suffered defeat since the Manchester derby and despite a similar run in Europe where Roberto Mancini’s men have gone the previous four games without loss, they have only recorded two away wins so far – the last of which was back in September against Red Bull Salzburg.
Blues boss Mancini has been building up to the tie by highlighting just what the competition means to him and the club.
“The Europa League is a great competition,” the Italian admitted this week. “There are big teams in it. There are a lot of well-known sides in the competition. All the teams we can play usually play in the Champions League. It is a little Champions League.”
Despite this, his words about his teams overall fitness will worry City fans – having lost Kolo Toure indefinitely, his side must now battle in three competitions with a decreasing selection of players available to play. Adam Johnson and Shay Given will unlikely feature again this season, whilst fears of burnout for players such as David Silva and Yaya Toure will worry Mancini, due to their continuous high-level of starts so far this campaign.
Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips will ease worries for his boss, as the England man could feature in the last 16 tie after overcoming a back injury. Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong could also feature after missing the last handful of games.
Kiev haven’t concede a goal in their last three Europa League home games, and were last defeated on their own soil in European competition since a 2-1 defeat by FC Barcelona over two years ago.
They have 34-year-old former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko currently on their books; the club where he started his career. He has four goals from nine Europa League matches so far this season.
Form
All Competitions:
Dynamo Kiev: WDWWW (14 goals for, 2 against)
Man City: WWDWW (13 goals for, 1 against)
Europa League:
Dynamo Kiev: WWDWW (14 goals for, 2 against)
Man City: LWDDW (8 goals for, 4 against)
