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Fernandinho Returns As City Attack Barca

Manuel Pellegrini claims Manchester will welcome Barcelona to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night as the ruling force in the city after insisting his club are now bigger than Manchester United.

“If we only consider this season, there is just one club in Manchester and it is ours,” Pellegrini said. “But you cannot forget what United has done in the previous years.” Pellegrini said

The City manager was in combative mood as he addressed the press on the eve of a UEFA Champions League last-16 tie which provides the latest opportunity for City to underline their credentials as one of Europe’s elite teams.
Pellegrini has been on the wrong end of Barca’s brilliance in the past, losing out on the Spanish title in 2010 despite taking Real Madrid to a then-record points total.

But City average three-and-a-half goals a game at home in this season’s Premier League, and Pellegrini is not about to alter his attacking style for Tuesday’s first leg.

He said: “When you play against Barcelona, against important teams, you always must consider important things.

“But I think the most important thing is to try to be the same team that you are seeing every week here in the Premier League.

“That for me is very important, to continue having the style of play, to continue having the personality to try to beat Barcelona.

“You cannot play without considering that in front you have Lionel Messi, you have other important players. But we are not going to play just thinking of defending and not thinking of what we can do with the ball.”

Pellegrini was asked where victory over Barca would leave City’s rivalry with Manchester United, who remain in the Champions League but are 15 points off the top of the Premier League in David Moyes’ first season.

He gave a qualified endorsement of City’s current status, saying: “If we only consider this season, there is just one club in Manchester and it’s ours, but you cannot forget what United has done in the previous years.

“We are aiming to keep growing by winning many trophies, not just national but international trophies. We are fighting for four titles this year.

City are lifted by the potential return of midfielder Fernandinho after a fortnight out with a muscle strain

The Brazilian has trained ahead of the match and looks set to resume his impressive midfield partnership with Yaya Toure.