View From A Blue

Mentally and physically drained after the defiant, but ultimately unsuccessful, exertions against Barcelona, City will need to draw on their fighting spirit on Saturday. Hull are by no means a pushover and another lacklustre performance, the like of which has increasingly crept into our game over the past couple of months, would result in a probable [...]

The dilemma facing Manuel Pellegrini ahead of this second leg is one of balance. He must decide whether it is better to attack Barcelona immediately and try to ruffle their feathers or, despite the necessity to overturn the 2-0 deficit, whether his side would be best served containing for around an hour so as to stay [...]

Costel Pantilimon is set to retain his position in net after featuring in the Capital One Cup final, whilst Micah Richards a likely to step into the side to provide Pablo Zabaleta with a rest ahead of the trip to Barcelona on Wednesday. Vincent Kompany is another who may benefit from a rest but is [...]

Costel Pantilimon is expected to start in goal ahead of Joe Hart. Having featured in all but one of the Capital One Cup ties so far this season, the Romanian is likely to benefit from the more personal man-management skills and loyalty of Manuel Pellegrini, unlike last year’s ruthless demotion to the bench courtesy of Roberto [...]

Manuel Pellegrini faces a selection poser as he looks to inject energy and confidence into his exhausted side. Those who started against Barcelona were stretched and made to hurry and harry in their attempts to close down the Spaniards and by the final whistle, there were some shattered legs. The manager, therefore, will aim to [...]