Champions League: Analysing British Hopes of Winning
Manchester City 
What is going on at Manchester City? Its baffling that as team so stalwart, so resolute at the back can become so porous in such a short space of time. The result against Sunderland was there first clean sheet after 11 attempts this season and it beggars belief that the Sky Blues will march to victory with their current defensive problems. As far as their performances on the continent are concerned, most fans are rightly concerned. Mental lapses reduced a promising tête-à-tête with Real Madrid into a fruitless and demoralizing venture, with City blithely gifting two late goals from a winning position to a very fortunate Mourinho side. At least the pundits exclaimed they went toe to toe with one of the favorites away from the Etihad. Still, the fallout resulted in an outburst from a visibly flabbergasted Joe Hart. And the subsequent public criticism from his manager, although in itself unusual, only spurred him on to produce one of the greatest goalkeeping displays in the competitions history. It goes to show the flow of a game when your man of the match was the man between the posts. Manchester City, in need of a result to keep their hopes of escaping the group stage alive, entertained a Dortmund team similarly disappointing in European ties of late. But it was City who looked vastly out of their depth, especially with the inexperienced Jack Rodwell overwhelmed by the fluidity of the away side. The game highlighted three reasons why Manchester City are a long way from dominating in Europes elite competition. Firstly, the team relies too heavily on Yaya Toures drive and impetus that a bad showing by the big midfield often spells doom for his side. Although, players like Silva, Nasri and Aguero are capable match-winners Yaya is clearly the focal point and talisman of the team. Secondly, the defensive woes have definitely increased the fear factor of playing in Europe. There was a distinct lack of belief running through the side against Dortmund; due in part to the occasion, the manner of the Real defeat and Mancinis incomprehensible switch to a 3 at the back formation. He promptly reverted to common sense, but too late as the damage was done when City went behind. Thirdly, the draw afforded City the hardest group this year, with the current champions of Spain (Real Madrid), Germany (Dortmund) and Holland (Ajax) the chances of progression are even more tenuous given the state of the table after two matches. A result for Dortmund in the latest fixture would have been completely justified. Only through Balotellis uncommonly level-headed spot kick, granted by a very contentious penalty decision, did Manchester City scrape through with a point. It was the worst City display since the influx of wealth by the current owners and one that may not be unique. Lets not forget that this club is the new kid on the block and regardless of the fact that they have cup winners throughout the squad it doesnt mean the team is a cup winning outfit just yet. As mentioned in a previous post here, the fault must lay in no small part with Mancini and depending on the amount of patience garnered from the league title last year his Abu Dhabi bosses may start to feel that he has taken the club as far as he can go. He himself said he wishes to improve his European record as a manager after his terrible tenure in the competition at Inter (an Inter almost identical in personnel that Mourinho made into Champions only 12 months later). Still, regardless of the long-term manager Manchester City will continue to improve, but it took a long, long time for Abramovichs Chelsea to bear fruit across the channel and in Citys case it will be no different. Prediction: They look a little out of their depth this term and havent been able to improve either. If anything they have taken a few steps back, especially defensively. Is there a doubt that they will eventually win the Champions League? No, but the wait will not end in 2013, Im afraid. Europa League could be the consolation prize if they continue to be so porous at the back and overwhelmed by the opposition.