<
>

City 'need complete game against Barca'

Manchester City assistant manager Ruben Cousillas believes his side will have to produce a “complete” performance if they are to beat Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Curtis: The river runs dry
Kompany: QPR win can spur City on

And he admits that City, who trail 2-0 after Feb. 18’s last-16 first leg, will have to take risks if they are to reach the last eight of the competition.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini, who will begin a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Jonas Eriksson after the first game, chose to miss Tuesday’s prematch press conference at the Camp Nou.

The Chilean's long-term assistant Cousillas therefore stood in, and said: “In order to beat Barcelona, we will have to play a very complete game.

“We will try to be the main characters and take our own risks, of course with the precautions of facing a great team.”

Cousillas has worked with Pellegrini at San Lorenzo, River Plate, Villarreal, Real Madrid, Malaga and now City, who are competing in their first ever knockout tie in the Champions League.

And the Argentine added: “We have to try and turn this game around and we have the weapons to do that. That is what we will try to do, fight until the end.”

City will be without the injured pair of Matija Nastasic and Stevan Jovetic, while Martin Demichelis, who was sent off in the first leg, is suspended.