Juventus v Manchester City Europa League Preview

eJuventus v Manchester City

Thursday, 15 December 2010

Europa League, Group A.

With all the news coming out of Eastlands over the past few days you could be forgiven for forgetting that Manchester City actually have a European game on Thursday night.

While Roberto Mancini’s men have already qualified for the latter stages of the Europa League, the Italian will no doubt still be looking for a good result as he prepares to take on Juventus for his first game on home soil as a Premier League manager.

The sides played out a 1-1 draw when they met at the City of Manchester Stadium back in September when Vincenzo Iaquinta gave Juventus an early lead before Adam Johnson equalised.

Since then, Juve have been eliminated following another draw away to Lech Poznan in horrific conditions in round five so the final group game is very much about pride for the Old Lady.

“The Europa League game against Manchester City doesn’t mean anything for the standings, but it does mean alot for our pride,” said defender Leonardo Bonucci. “We want to do well and honour this competition until the end because we are Juventus, and we always go on the pitch to win.”

Juventus veteran Alessandro Del Piero echoed these sentiments, expecting his side to give their best despite the overall outcome already being a foregone conclusion.

“Although our thoughts are on the game against Chievo on Sunday, one game we are preparing to honour the Europa League is the one against Manchester City,” he said.

It has been confirmed that neither Tevez nor Mario Balotelli will travel to Turin for City and with Roque Santa Cruz having been omitted from the club’s European squad list, Mancini is a little light on options up front. Balotelli will not be involved due to the club wishing to protect the youngster from the same racial abuse that he has faced before from opposing fans in Italy.

Jo and Emmanuel Adebayor, who has ironically been linked with a move to Juventus recently, have not featured in full training this week so it could open the door for youngster Alex Nimely to be involved in some capacity.

There may not be such selection headaches come January with Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko keen on swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League according to reports.

Tevez’s controversial agent, Kia Joorabchian, said that his Argentine client will continue to play for City and give 100% if he selected.

“Carlos has never said he is not going to play so those rumours are rubbish,” said Joorabchian. “He will play if picked and 100% do his best. He feels that is important every time he puts on the shirt.”

How fans will react should Tevez line out in blue again remains to be seen but club legend Uwe Rosler has already made his feelings quite clear when he spoke to BBC Radio Manchester this week.

“I’d take the captaincy away, 100%,” he said.

“In the long term it is important that every player is totally committed to City. I would let him go as long as the price is right.”

Losing a player of Tevez’s calibre would put a serious dent in plans to feature in May’s Europa League Final which will be played in Dublin, but first a suitor will need to be found for a man who reportedly earns in excess of £250,000 per week after tax.

Prediction:

Juventus 1 (Quagliarella)
Manchester City 1 (Silva)

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