City Win United Lose

Manchester City have beaten the European Champions Barcelona 1 -0 in a friendly at the Nou Camp also on the same night Manchester United were humbled at Premier League new boys Burnley by the same score.

City’s win in front of 94000 people came courtesy of a magnificent team goal scored by Martin Petrov who is looking to force his way into the managers starting eleven.

City Take On European Champions

 
Barcelona Vs Manchester City

Nou Camp

Wednesday 19th August

kick Off 21:15

While most of the Premier League have a competitive games this week, City have arranged a trip to the Nou Camp to take on Barcelona. Although I am not sure how seriously this will be taken, seen as the season has now got underway it is still a game I am very much looking forward to see how City compete against the European Champions.

After the fantastic start to the season on Saturday against Blackburn this game is an important step to reaching match fitness for many of the players and I am sure Mark Hughes will make a few changes to give some of the players that missed out at weekend a chance to see some action. I would expect to see the likes of Zabaleta, Tevez, Onuoha etc on the field.

Mark Hughes has a very difficult job this season trying to keep all his stars happy, we have a large squad and with no European football it will be difficult keeping players who are spending a lot of time sitting on the bench happy. We have already seen Martin Petrov voice his concern at what he thinks will be a lack of first team football this season.

Petrov Looking For Move

Martin Petrov has revealed his discontent at life at Manchester City while speaking to the Bulgarian press while on international duty:

“I don’t see City depending too much on me this year, at least from what I have seen from the pre-season friendlies so far. No footballer is content with polishing the bench and I am no exception.

“I am not in the plans of the City officials or manager Mark Hughes.

“In the next week I will try to speak with Hughes and if I get the green light for a transfer I will start searching for a new team.”

This could be the first of a number of players to see them selves feeling restless at the thought of spending alot of time warming the bench especially in the midfield and attacking department as the transfer deadline day draws ever closer. 

We will have to wait and see if this is just a voice of frustration speaking out or whether he sees his future away from Manchester City. Although I can’t see Petrov playing week in week out I do see him being an important player for us this season and if he was to leave he would be missed.