Manuel Pellegrini: Players, not tactics to blame for Barcelona loss

Two first-half goals by Luis Suarez gave Barcelona a 2-1 win at Manchester City as they moved within sight of the Champions League quarter-finals.

In a repeat of last season's last-16 first leg at the Etihad, Barcelona were too slick for City who were sent reeling by a dizzying opening 45 minutes from the visitors. Suarez fired Barca in front in the 16th minute and doubled the lead after half an hour with the hosts powerless to stop the yellow tide surging towards their goal.

A vastly improved second half showing from City gave them hope for the second leg at the Nou Camp next month with Sergio Aguero halving the deficit 20 minutes from time. With City down to 10 men after Gael Clichy's red card, Messi could have restored Barcelona's two-goal lead but his penalty was saved by Hart before the Argentine headed the rebound wide.

Pellegrini was under fire for his decision to line up in a 4-4-2 formation with Sergio Aguero being partnered by Edin Dzeko, ceding the midfield to Barcelona and allowing the Catalan giants to enjoy the freedom of the park in the first half.

However, Pellegrini rejected that analysis.

“We couldn’t put three passes together in the first half. There was a bit of confusion and we committed a very soft error for the first goal. But we didn’t do until the second half what we wanted to do in the game. If we played in the first half in the way we did the second, I think we would have done better.

“We managed to be calmer in the second half, when we pressed well and did well to hang on. We almost got something from the game. I am very happy [with our tactics]. It was the way we must play against Barcelona and we demonstrated that in the second half. Barcelona will always dominate in some parts of the pitch, but we demonstrated it was the way we must play – from the first minute. If we don’t play, it is not easy for our team to win.

You have to sympathise with Manuel Pellegrini for what was a hugely frustrating first half for Manchester City. They simply could not get anywhere near their Spanish counterparts during the opening 45 minutes, and, if what he said is true, the Chilean will have been furious to see his side go two goals down early on for having not executed the instructions he will have drilled into them prior to the match.

But for any football fan that has watched Barcelona play in the last five or so years, and, likewise, watched a team attempt to combat their slick attacking play, it is clear that there is a certain way to take on the Catalan club – and playing two strikers up front and leaving James Milner and the poor Fernando to look after the midfield was not it.

Luis Enrique’s side play with a tempo, aggression and work rate that makes it tremendously difficult even for City’s array of talent to follow instructions. But surrendering midfield before the match has even started has to go down as a big error by the Manchester City manager.

Yes. Vincent Kompany had a shocker and played a part in both of Barcelona's goals. First he failed to deal with Suarez for the first and secondly he came charging out of the defensive line and then failed to track Suarez for the second. Clichy then earned a stupid red card and Pablo Zabalets was lucky his silly late challenge on Messi wasn't punished by a converted penalty.

This stat says it all about the paucity of City's resistance:

John Brewin (ESPN): From the game management of coach Manuel Pellegrini to a regrettable display from captain Vincent Kompany, City's leaders cost their club. The prematch aim was to visit Barcelona in three weeks with something to protect. Instead, something unprecedented must be found.

Guillem Balague (Bleacher Report): As convincing as Barcelona were, much of the blame for City’s defeat needs to fall squarely on the shoulders of manager Manuel Pellegrini. The Chilean manager had said before the game he intended to take the game to the Catalans from the start. The problem was not that City attacked from the start but rather that they didn’t know what tactics they should best employ. It was this lack of definition in their game plan that led to their having to fight their way back into the match in the second half.