Manchester City host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie and will be able to welcome midfielder Yaya Toure back into the squad for the decider.
In light of captain Vincent Kompany’s absence, City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be delighted to see the return of Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure, while playmaker David Silva has also been passed fit to play. Meanwhile, PSG manager Laurent Blanc admitted that midfielder Marco Verratti would need a ‘miracle’ to take to the pitch on Tuesday.
Manchester City
City will be without captain Vincent Kompany for this tie, while Raheem Sterling is out with a groin injury. Silva has been deemed fit after a scare and Yaya Toure will most likely start after returning to full fitness. Jesus Navas and Nicolas Otamendi will miss the first leg of the semi-final if they pick up a yellow card in the decider against PSG.
Apart from providing an injury update, Pellegrini also commented on Manchester City fans’ controversial decision to boo the UEFA Champions League anthem. When asked whether City fans should stop booing, the Mirror reported the Chilean saying: “It depends if you are superstitious. If you are superstitious we continue winning if they boo the anthem.”
Tuesday’s clash will be played in front of a full capacity Etihad Stadium. On being asked whether the fans would make a difference, the Chilean said: “Yes of course. I know and they know also.
“Maybe they have some booing at the beginning but after that they are always supporting our team so I don’t have any complaint about the fans.”
Paris Saint-Germain
Marco Verratti has travelled with the PSG squad to Manchester, but according to manager Laurent Blanc, it would take a ‘miracle’ for him to be involved in the game. Playmaker Javier Pastore has been ruled out with a calf injury. Blaise Matuidi and David Luiz have been suspended and will miss this tie. Serge Aurier, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Verratti are also on yellow cards and will miss the next match if they are booked.
Speaking on Verratti, who was expected to return for this tie, the club’s official website reported Blanc as saying: “Marco Veratti is here because I decided to bring the entire squad. I think the entire squad deserves to feel involved in this match. Like I have already said, it will take a miracle to see Marco on the pitch tomorrow.”
The French manager also discussed Ibrahimovic’s below-par performance in the first leg. “Unfortunately it happened in the first leg, but don’t forget that it was also Zlatan that scored our first goal,” he said. “He is very demanding of himself and will want to make amends tomorrow.”
Manchester City have a great chance to make history
Manchester City are on the brink of making history as they look to qualify for their first ever semi-final in the UEFA Champions League. The two away goals will no doubt fill Pellegrini’s men with confidence, while the absence of key figures due to suspension for PSG should further boost their chances.
Meanwhile, the Paris club are also looking to reach their first ever semi-final, and unlike their opponents, Blanc’s men will have spent the week resting and concentrating solely on Tuesday’s game. PSG will need to be much more focussed than in the first leg, where they afforded plenty of opportunities to Manchester City because of sloppy defending.
