City welcome the Catalan
giants to the Etihad tomorrow night and the Ivorian believes his current side
are clear underdogs
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has admitted his side are a work in
progress, who aim to be at the same level as Champions League last-16 opponents
Barcelona.
Manuel Pellegrini's men will take on
the Catalans at the Etihad tomorrow, having progressed from the group stage for
the first time in their history.
Barca have won the competition four times, with Toure
playing a pivotal role in their 2009 triumph, prior to his move to Manchester,
and the Ivorian believes the historic
difference gives his former side the edge.
He told ESPN: "Barcelona have experience. They have chemistry. They
have a strong mentality.
"Barcelona know how to manage these situations because they have been
such a strong club for so long and for us it is the first time.
"We don't want to put pressure on ourselves because clubs like Madrid
and Barcelona have a big history. We want to be at that level. Our goal is to
become one of the big fish."
Many believe City will need to deliver another excellent Etihad performance
- where they have lost just five times since 2011 - in order to progress.
And Toure - who has admitted he is apprehensive about the clash -
is well aware of the dangers that tomorrow night's opponent pose, with one
Lionel Messi in their ranks.
He added: "What we want to do it to test ourselves because we have
been so dominant at the Etihad.
"But against Barcelona we will have to be careful because they have a
fantastic counter-attack and the best player in the world on their team."
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