Manchester City would never have imagined that their first ever appearance in a Champions League quarter-final would be accompanied by so much cause for concern.

Certainly not during the days of Roberto Mancini when the group stages were the height of ambition; not in Manuel Pellegrini’s first two years in charge when Barcelona strolled to comfortable last-16 victories; and most definitely not after a 3-1 first-leg win against Dynamo Kiev all but assured passage to the last eight three weeks ago.

But injuries to Vincent Kompany, surely a recurrence of his calf problems and therefore another lengthy lay-off, and Nicolas Otamendi have got fans fearful of what lays ahead. “Imagine that defence against Barca,” was just one of the downbeat musings offered up at half-time.

City possess one of the many British fan bases that subscribes to the theory that if anything can go wrong, it will do, and the expectation that Barcelona will be drawn out of the hat in Nyon on Friday is, for want of a better word, typical.

But, as morbid as it may sound, City have more pressing concerns. There may yet be good news for both Kompany and Otamendi and they may not be out for long periods, but they will surely miss Sunday’s Manchester derby.

City’s league form has been so bad over the last six weeks it had left many fearful of a derby drubbing – even at the hands of Louis van Gaal’s most uninspiring United – before kick-off on Tuesday night. Even success in the League Cup and that fine performance in Kiev counted for little heading into this game, with City 12 points behind title hopefuls Leicester City and with just two wins – against Sunderland and Aston Villa – in the six matches since Pellegrini announced his summer departure.

United have looked as clueless in the boardroom as they have done on the pitch in the past few months, with Ed Woodward dithering over a decision whether to sack the underperforming Louis van Gaal, who has lowered expectations more than David Moyes ever did.

The Red Devils have been beset by more injuries than even City, but they surely could not overhaul their neighbours to pinch fourth place even if they had their best players available for the run-in.

Even so, such is the negativity around the Etihad Stadium at the moment – considering recent form and Kompany’s latest setback – there is a fear that Sunday has the potential to get ugly.

Eliaquim Mangala, who has very rarely inspired confidence since joining and was not even named among the substitutes at Norwich the weekend just gone, was the first to be thrown into the breach against Kiev. Martin Demichelis, who will be sold this summer and looks well past his best, followed as Otamendi limped off.

Kiev offered little on the night but what they did muster had the makeshift partnership scrambling. A poor Demichelis pass helped put Mangala on his backside not long into their time together, but the visitors could not take advantage. The France defender then challenged for a header where the Argentine should have been, leaving a man free behind him. A Joe Hart punch came to the rescue.

After the break Andriy Yarmolenko ran at Mangala, who, backpeddling, never looked comfortable, but the Ukraine international, even in the space afforded to him, could only shoot straight at Hart.

United are bad, but Kiev were worse and still they got opportunities to make things very uncomfortable. Bacary Sagna, not used here, could deputise in the heart of defence but Pellegrini, for better or worse, trusts his old deputies and Demichelis will most likely partner Mangala. That faith paid dividends with Willy Caballero at Wembley but few expect a repeat of such heroics right now.

Defeat at the hands of United last season sparked a revival in City that carried over into the current campaign and had them looking like champions elect. But that loss also seems to have hamstrung Pellegrini’s approach to big games and, with no wins against the current top eight, City are out of the title race.

Putting the injuries aside, the Blues looked uninspired again here. Yaya Toure, missed against Norwich and Liverpool, carried the fight and Sergio Aguero huffed and puffed, but City never really looked like finding a breakthrough. Jesus Navas, who drew the ire of fans for one ill-fated foray forward before the break, did strike a post in the second half, but that was all the home side could muster. Hart was the busier of the two goalkeepers and indeed saved his side at the death. It was another concerning performance.

Hart, seconds after proving his importance once again, was jubilant at the final whistle, celebrating the club’s achievement by hugging his closest team-mates. Aguero and Toure, at the other end of the pitch, looked nowhere near as pleased.

It sums up the strange situation the club now find themselves in.

A run in the Champions League, where City have played some of their best football this season, should serve as a very welcome distraction as the domestic season peters out. But, given the recent level of performances and, most of all, the absence of Kompany, even a draw against Wolfsburg or Benfica would not inspire much confidence at the moment. Never mind Bayern or Barca.

(Goal.com)

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