City not ready to win Champions League: Mancini

Side faces Ajax in must-win game today.

MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s expensive squad is not ready to win the Champions League, said manager Roberto Mancini ahead of his side’s must-win encounter with Ajax Amsterdam today. 

Despite having several of the world’s costliest footballers in their ranks, the Premier League champions have struggled to make an impact in Europe’s flagship competition and are bottom of Group D.

Defeat at home to the Dutch league champions would torpedo any lingering hopes City have of qualifying for the knockout stages and represent a second consecutive early exit.

“I don’t think we’re ready to win the Champions League,” Mancini told reporters after his team stuttered to a 0-0 draw at West Ham United on Saturday.

“If we say we’re ready to win it, we’re not honest. In the Champions League it’s clear that incredible situations can happen in February and March but we’ve been drawn in a tough group this year, like last year.”

“The Champions League is like this. If we win our next three games, that would be fantastic, anything can happen. But the road is very long.”

Schalke aim to exploit Arsenal’s faltering form

Schalke 04 are aiming to add to Arsenal’s faltering recent form when they host the Gunners today, looking for a second win to stay top of Group B in the Champions League.

Even though Schalke had their five-match losing streak end in Sinsheim, but with north London giants Arsenal as their Gelsenkirchen guests, captain Benedikt Hoewedes has said his side has everything to play for at the Veltins Arena.

“We won in London, why shouldn’t we succeed in front of our own fans at the Veltins-Arena?” said Hoewedes. “I think we have every chance. We will not be thrown off by a defeat.”

Madrid and Borussia look to control group

Real Madrid go in search of quick revenge against Borussia Dortmund after suffering a 2-1 reversal in Germany only two weeks ago.

At the halfway stage of a tough group, today’s clash will go a long way to deciding which side, if any, can be confident of qualification.

German international Sami Khedira, who missed Saturday’s victory over Zaragoza due to an injury, is sure his side will make it out of Group D.

“Madrid will qualify and one other side and I’ll leave it open as to who will qualify on the other,” said Khedira.

“But obviously being German it would be nice for me if it were Dortmund and I think they deserve to after winning two consecutive leagues, and they are doing well in the Champions League this year.”

On the other hand, Borussia will have to improve on recent form if they are to make an impression as on Saturday they could only draw 0-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2012.