Manchester City have not managed to progress beyond the initial group stages of Europe’s major competition- The UEFA Champions’ League for the past two years. They failed to win a solitary game last season in the group which consists of Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund.
An easier group has been drawn this time, despite the Group D boasting heavy-weights and current defending champions, Bayern Munich. Munich was unstoppable last season and clinched the cup in a sensational manner by defeating Dortmund in the finals. It turned out to be an all German affair with the entire world split into rooting for the newbies/underdogs Dortmund, and the proven performers Bayern Munich. The other teams in the group are Viktoria Plzen and CSKA Moscow.
Their first game against Plzen is on Tuesday night. Zabaleta, the club’s premier defender feels that it is simply another chance for his club to do better in the Champions League. “We need to forget about the past and concentrate on the task at hand. We would learn from our mistakes and will definitely do better this time. I stress that our group is loaded with strong teams. However, if you compare it with last two years, it might be a little kinder this time around. I firmly believe that we have a good chance to qualify for the next round. We need to get the three points against Plzen. The match after that would be Bayern Munich at home, and that is the challenge we are looking forward to.”
Manager Pellegrini possesses a decent record in the Champions’ League, having reached the final four with Villarreal and almost getting Malaga into the semi-finals in the previous season.
Zabaleta also added, “He is a good manager. His experience in the Champions’ League is appreciated as well. His stints with Villarreal and Malaga have been successful. Hopefully, he can do very well with us as well.”