Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini Needs Sergio Aguero To Be With Them Against Real Madrid As He Ponders On His Side’s Champions League Prospects

To prepare on playign against tough oponnent Real Madrid, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said that he gave more time for their last season’s top goal scorer Sergio Aguero to rest and stay fit.

Mancini and the rest of City deem their Champions League opening fixture against Real Madrid as their toughest in their second stint at Europe’s most prestigious club competition. To cope up with scoring, they need to pit in Aguero as their strike force. The Argentinian international sustained a knee injury in his side’s Premier League opener against Southampton.

While Aguero has returned to training with City following his international stint with Argentina during the break, Mancini is still uncertain of starting him against Real Madrid. He followed up by assuring that the striker will fly with them to Madrid.

The match between Real Madrid and City will be the first time both teams will face one another. Mancini remarked that they are still trying to build history and that they may not be as competitive against their prestigious Spanish rivals, despite an influx of investment that led to their fresh progress.

The manager believes that while he has good players, he acknowledges their constant need for improvement. Recalling their difficult group stage stint last year, he said that they must be prepared for an even more difficult year at Champions League – this time against their fellow European domestic top-league champions.

Facing Real Madrid will be the greatest trial for Mancini’s managerial career, especially with a recently progressing team in the mould of City. He noted that they have to brace themselves to withstand a team that has a highly successful history, top-class players and a nine-time European club winner, but his side will never settle for a draw or loss.

Calling Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho as a “good manager”, Mancini said that he would be civil with him when they meet at the match, despite their reported rift. Mourinho succeeded the Italian as Internazionale Milan coach in 2008.

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Photo credits:

Roberto Mancini [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved 18 September 2012, from <http://www.euronews.com/sport/1660596-aguero-may-feature-against-real-madrid-says-mancini/ >