Of the final four left in this season's Uefa Champions League, Manchester City are the outsiders to win against Real Madrid, probably due to their inexperience at this stage and a slightly dodgy defence. But they have a squad packed with quality and it's no stretch to imagine them lifting the trophy in May. Here are five reasons Thomas Woods says they can win it.
Read more: Five reasons why Real Madrid will win the Uefa Champions League
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Sergio Aguero’s form
In the past four seasons, Sergio Aguero has played 30, 23, 33 and (if he starts each remaining match) 31 games for Manchester City. There’s usually at least one spell where he is out injured and, while that hinders City, it has allowed him to finish seasons strongly with fresher legs. Last season, he netted nine in his last seven games and this campaign he has seven in his past seven. The Argentine is in sensational form and is the one player Real Madrid will fear most in their semi-final clash. His pace and low centre of gravity, similar to Madrid’s regular nemesis Lionel Messi, could cause the Spanish club major problems. City manager Manuel Pellegrini has not been able to give Aguero much rest during the run-in as they fight Arsenal and Manchester United for the Premier League’s remaining Uefa Champions League qualification spots, but Swansea City away on the last day of the season stands out as a game he could sit out if City have a European spot secure, leaving him fit for the final should they get that far.
Improved defence
Without Vincent Kompany, Manchester City’s defence was a major weak spot for the first half of the season. But they have seven clean sheets in their past 11 games in all competitions, a good trend heading into the two legs against Real Madrid’s expensive attacking line-up. One of the reasons for the improvement? Big-money centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala have improved from some very shaky performances early on and are adapting more to English football. Kompany is fit again, too, though whether he will remain that way until the end of the season is doubtful.
Kevin de Bruyne
The Belgian might be the most complete midfielder in Europe at the moment. He was the match-winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final and he gives Manchester City a different dimension to any of their other midfielders. He carries the ball well and is a threat with long-range shots. Along with Aguero, he is City’s matchwinner.
Manuel Pellegrini’s tactical nous
While Manchester City as a club have never reached the semi-final stage before, their Chilean manager has. His Villarreal side were a missed penalty kick away from taking Arsenal to extra time in the 2005/06 semi-final, and he has also been involved in two quarter-finals. While Pellegrini doesn’t always get much credit for his tactics, he certainly knows how to set up a side to win a two-legged tie.
City’s lack of experience
Not having played at this stage before might actually help City. Collectively, their players still have bags of experience and while Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich have done well in this competition in the recent past – and all have bad blood with each other – City can go into the game with a clear mind.
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