City, Poznan in crucial tie

Nov 04, 2010 |

Paris, Nov. 3: Bigspending Manchester City may have designs on dining with Europe’s elite in next season’s Champions League — but recent league form means they may yet have to sample another year of the earthier fare of the Europa League.

On Thursday, City will seek to steer way past Polish side Lech Poznan to consolidate their status as Group A top dogs in a game which will give coach Roberto Mancini a chance to give playing time to some of his fringe players. At the same time the Italian will take a chance to sharpen the axe and wield it above some of those who under-achieved in successive Premier League losses to Arsenal and Wolves.

Those setbacks have left City hanging on in fourth place, eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea and three behind local rivals Manchester United.

The losses also moved Mancini to state that “I do not feel the pressure” — but admit that his charges have to pull their socks up.

City have won two and drawn one so far in Europe to establish a three-point lead over Poznan with Juventus. The two sides of City’s coin are amply illustrated by Emmanuel Adebayor, who scored a hat-trick against the Poles a fortnight ago on a rare start.

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