City’s Director of Football believes that wins over Bayern Munich and AS Roma have given the team the necessary confidence to progress further than ever before in Europe’s premier club competition.
The former Barcelona man also joked that he need not return to Nyon next year due to the repetitive nature of the club’s Champions League draws this campaign.
In a remarkable twist of fate, the English champions have faced the exact same opposition as they did last season, except for AS Roma instead of Viktoria Plzen.
“It’s unbelievable – we don’t need to come next year!” Txiki laughed.
“Every tie in that draw is the same, it’s fantastic, so we’re looking forward to it.
“We have plenty of confidence with the way we qualified beating Bayern Munich at home and Roma away, so the players will be working hard to get fit and arrive in confidence for those games.
“We have improved our squad from last season and we have some real quality up front.
“It will be emotional, and difficult as well, but is also a chance to visit family and friends.
“I have a lot of friends there, in the club and out of it.
We know everything about them.”
...Txiki Begiristain...
Tixiki’s Barcelona counterpart Andoni Zubizarreta has described the game as “difficult” and has said that anything can happen when the teams meet in the spring.
“It is the same draw we had a year ago, it was a very difficult game and we are going to look forward to it,” he told reporters in Nyon.
“Manchester City have an outstanding squad with a very good coach, a very good team and are very competitive.
“We know all about them. They have been playing at a very high level and it is going to be difficult. Two great teams with incredible players and anything can happen.
“Luis Suarez has been performing excellently. Can we go further than last year? Hopefully we can go all the way.”
City v Crystal Palace
It’s City’s last game at the Etihad Stadium before Christmas and you can be here to find out if the champions can keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders, Chelsea.
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Crystal Palace online at www.mcfc.co.uk/tickets, by telephone on +44 161 444 1894 (option 1, option 1, option 2)* and to personal callers at the Ticket Office above the City Store at the Etihad Stadium.
Book now to avoid disappointment!
