It’s been six years since City had to take part in a play-off round for a European competition, and fans would’ve been forgiven for thinking it very unlikely that we’d have to play in one again for some time. However, as last season petered out it became increasingly clear that that was indeed the fate that awaited us, and we eagerly waited for the draw to come in early August.
Come it did, and we were somewhat relieved to be drawn against Steaua Bucuresti rather than Roma or Monaco, the two more evidently threatening teams in the group. And most are quietly confident ahead of the first leg, despite the Romanian club’s insistence that they will cause an upset.
Tuesday acts as a litmus test for how City’s new style of football will translate to the European stage. We were delighted to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last year, even if we did them succumb limply to eventual winners Real Madrid, but the weight of expectation is on Pep Guardiola now. He’s not won Europe’s biggest title for five years now, and many believe he can take City one step further and win them Old Big Ears at some point in the next three years.
The Blues looked fragile in the visit of Sunderland on Saturday evening, with clear signs of teething problems, which is entirely understandable. We may have been preparing for the arrival of Pep for four years or more, but regardless it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen at City before. The full-backs tucking in for most of the game, Fernandinho dropping in to act as almost a third central defender while simultaneously controlling the game, the relentless pressing high up the field. These are things we will need to adapt to if we want to have success, but you get the feeling it will come. Pep knows what he’s doing.
A few noticeable names are absent for the trip to Romania on Tuesday night. Yaya Toure and Jason Denayer have both been dropped from the squad after being included in the initial list, while Leroy Sane is still absent with hamstring trouble. Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony were all left off the initial list sent to UEFA, so also weren’t on the plane. Happily though, Nicolas Otamendi is and seems set to start after remaining unused on Saturday while he recovers from an injury.
Steaua are also missing important members of their squad, with captain Mihai Pintilii a big doubt for the visit of the Premier League side. The club’s physios are working hard to get the 31-year-old back ready, but he still seems likely to miss out on the home leg at least.
The Romanian side could have an advantage in that they are further into their league season than Pep Guardiola’s Blues, sitting second in Liga 1 with nine points from their three games so far. In the three victories, they’ve netted six times and conceded just once. They have also been active in the Champions League, winning a tie against Sparta Prague 3-1 on aggregate.
City went through comfortably the last time they faced a European play-off tie, beating Poli Timisoara – also a Romanian side – 3-0 over the two legs, with Mario Balotelli and Shaun-Wright-Philips both managing to get on the scoresheet. And we mustn’t forget Pep was in a similar situation with Barcelona in his first season there, emerging with a 4-1 aggregate win. To come out of the game as victors on Tuesday, we just need to keep the ball and play our game; don’t get frustrated if Steaua sit back and try to break. Be patient, and the chances will come.
