Sky Sports pundit says Manuel Pellegrini can't play two up front
Tuesday 21 October 2014 09:31, UK
The Champions League returns to Sky Sports at 4.30pm on Tuesday, as Manchester City travel to Russia to take on CSKA Moscow. Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness has called on Manuel Pellegrini to alter his tactics if they are to get the win they need...
CSKA Moscow v Manchester City, 4.30pm, Tuesday, Sky Sports 5
Manchester City have to go into this game with confidence – but I just hope the manager opts for more solidity in his midfield.
They have been too easy to play against in the Champions League so far. Manuel Pellegrini needs to play one up front, strengthen his midfield and have a look at how the game is panning out.
You don’t have to win the game in the first half. The manager should be looking at how the game is going and if things are going well then you don’t need to change things, but at least you’ve been solid. If you need to throw on another forward then do it in the second half.
I don’t think he has learned his lessons from last year. In the draw with Roma they ended up chasing the game because they were too easy to play against at the start. The Italian side turned up expecting a really difficult game and in the first half it was quite easy for them. They didn’t look particularly solid until James Milner came on at half-time to replace Jesus Navas.
We’ve consistently seen Pellegrini play two strikers as well as Navas. That’s great if you’re bossing a game, but until you get yourself into that position he doesn’t do enough in terms of working as a proper midfield player.
In contrast, Milner has quickly propelled himself into becoming one of the first names on the team sheet, alongside the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. He has turned out to be a proper midfield player and a manager’s dream and can give you that solidity in midfield.
So they have to strengthen the midfield and allow Sergio Aguero to play up front on his own as a lone striker.
The fact the game is being played behind closed doors will help City. That didn’t happen to me during my career, but I always used to enjoy the hostility of certain away games. I know that other players don’t enjoy that, so they should prefer an empty stadium.
The City players played on Saturday lunchtime, so have had plenty of time to prepare. The way they will travel and the accommodation they will have will ensure that a long trip to Moscow isn’t an issue.
They have got to win both of their games against CSKA Moscow, so they have to go there and win on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea v Maribor
In an ideal world I think Jose Mourinho would have liked Diego Costa available for this game.
I think he would have liked to have started with him, got in front and then taken him off. The injury will be a concern to him because they certainly don’t carry the same threat without him.
He will believe that if Chelsea had Costa last season then they would have won the league and possibly won the Champions League, so his absence is a concern ahead of a game they want to win. They can’t afford to take Maribor lightly.
I say that because I expected Chelsea to find things easy in their first home game against Schalke, but they weren’t bang at it and could only draw with a German side that played very well. Then they didn’t look terribly impressive in their last match against Sporting.
I think Loic Remy is a good player, but he’s just not Costa. He should be more than good enough for this type of game against a team from Slovenia, though.
Chelsea should win the match with something to spare, but it’s vital they get three points at home. They don’t want to draw this one and put themselves under pressure for the away games coming up.
Watch seven live Champions League games - including CSKA Moscow v Manchester City and Barcelona v Ajax - on Sky Sports this Tuesday from 4.30pm.
