Champions League: Nasri Declares War On Barca

•Nasri of Manchester City, Photos- AFP

•Nasri of Manchester City, Photos- AFP

Samir Nasri has sent a “you don’t scare us” message to Barcelona tonight as he warned them Manchester City are a more streetwise team than a year ago.

Nasri admits City were overawed and paid the Catalan club too much respect when they met in last season’s Champions League. Barca won 4-1 on aggregate.

But Nasri says City are determined to make a long-awaited mark in Europe by taking revenge when the clubs meet again in the round-of-16, with the first leg this evening at the Etihad Stadium.

“I think we respected them too much last year,” said midfielder Nasri. “But at the same time we were not experienced to compete with a club like Barcelona.

“With their history, they know how to play in these kinds of games and know how to win the Champions League.

•Nasri of Manchester City, Photos- AFP
•Nasri of Manchester City, Photos- AFP

“For us, it was the first time that we went through the group stage and I think it was too big a game for us and we were not ready yet.

“I think that this time is totally different because we know what we are capable of.

“We are going to respect them as a club but we are not going to be scared, we’re just going to play and try to win.”

Barca won 2-0 at the Etihad a year ago and tonight Luis Suarez makes his first appearance in England since his controversial summer departure from Liverpool.

Related News

Nasri says the Uruguayan striker has had to adjust to not being the main man at the Nou Camp as he was at Anfield.

“It was different at Liverpool,” said Nasri. “He was good because the team was built around him. But you can’t build a team around Suarez when you have Messi at his prime, it’s just different.

“But when you arrive at a big club you have to deal with those things and not come in and try to be the No.1.

“At Barcelona he arrived and Messi is scoring 50 goals a year, so you’re not going to arrive and score 70 goals. Messi, and Ronaldo, are in a different galaxy.

“But Suarez creates a lot of assists for the team. They have a proper No 9 now and he creates a lot of space for Neymar and Messi. I watch their games [on TV] and for me he has had a big impact.

“I think he’s been good but he just doesn’t score as much as last year.”

Meanwhile City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists his team can cope without the talismanic Yaya Toure, who is suspended.

“I would always prefer to play with Yaya because he’s a very important player and our team plays better with him,” he said. “But we played without him against Bayern Munich and Roma and won both games so it shows we have a good enough squad to cope.

Load more