Barcelona 2 – 1 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS

The simple facts of the scoreline, both last night and on aggregate, don’t make for particularly pleasant reading from a City perspective but what the Blues can take from last night is belief. Elements such as pride, defiance and spirit are not tangible, they can’t always be assessed by a statistic and yet, forced onto the offensive against one of the best sides in the world, a collective fight and passion were manifest. Supporters did not travel in expectation of an unforgettable comeback, more the hope that the players would demonstrate notions of character and ambition, and they did just that. They displayed superbia in proelio, pride in battle.

Of course, given our efforts in Spain, there was a certain, fleeting sense of disappointment. Our performance merited more than a physically and mentally sapping defeat, yet whilst the natural reaction in the immediate aftermath is one of dejection, there seemed to be a measure of acceptance upon leaving the Nou Camp. We were not defeated because of the referee – embarrassingly incompetent though he was – nor was this a case of City sitting back and trying to limit the damage. Instead, we faced a football unit so adept at controlling a game. That is the level to which we aspire and gradually, we’re getting there. For now, though, we have to remain patient.

Simply put, Barcelona are a better team than City at the moment. They pass the ball with elegance, at times taking their desire for possession too far and not posing a constant threat, but the way in which they dart around to create space and provide angles is suffocating. They pass, pass and pass some more, moving defences out of position, tiring midfielders and then they pounce. And yet, for all their dominance, they were contained by banks of City resilience. Their domination was often sterile and although our defending was a touch chaotic on occasions, Joe Hart wasn’t as busy as many expected over the two legs. The principal difference between the sides last night was the clinical finishing from our hosts in contrast to City’s relative profligacy.

We knew it would be a tough task to both nullify Barcelona and impose our own style on proceedings but what was worthy of acclaim was the way in which we went about our business. Having shown the Spaniards too much respect in the first leg, this was a more biting performance. We pressed higher up the pitch, we won the ball back earlier and we retained possession better.

And, for spells, we piled on the pressure in search of that potentially tie-changing opener. Yet, for all our positive approach play, there was an absence of composure at key moments. David Silva, James Milner, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta were all presented with opportunities but they snatched at them. On a night when everything needed to be perfect, there were too many partial slip-ups.

One of those came at the back when Joleon Lescott’s clumsy footwork allowed Lionel Messi the freedon of the penalty area and his subsequent chip shattered any lingering hopes of overturning the deficit. Indeed, much of the post-match discussion has focused on our failings at the back and the need for defensive reinforcements. If we are to make the step forward in Europe, it is undeniable that a top-quality centre-back must be signed to partner Vincent Kompany. Sadly, we are all too aware of the limitations of Lescott, Matija Nastasic and Martin Demichelis, but last night wasn’t a case of poor defending, rather wayward finishing.

For the most part, Lescott coped well against the sheer genius of Messi. A side with the variety of class Barcelona possess are never going to be shackled throughout, but with Fernandinho offering a willing shield and Kompany at his authoritative best, we limited the home side’s endeavours until the encounter became more stretched towards the end. I’m sure that Manuel Pellegrini will target a new addition at the back as a priority in the summer, but last night wasn’t an occasion for criticism.

Instead, it was a time for thoughtful reflection. City supporters know that we’ll be in the Champions League every season for the foreseeable future and, more likely than not, we will progress to the knockout stage. What the players must do is learn from these experiences and come back stronger next time we face a side of such calibre. The gap is undoubtedly closing and now we just need to make those final strides.