UEFA Cup Group A Preview: Manchester City
With City in the process of fantasy team building, a tilt at the UEFA Cup may well be just what the club needs as they gradually integrate their first team squad. Certainly they have acquired - and will bring in more- players who will feel comfortable in Europe.
This group is one they should negotiate and the scheduling of the fixtures has fallen nicely for Mark Hughes's team. Schalke will be a big test but the other three opponents are beatable.
FC Twente
Steve McClaren must think someone doesn't like him. Once again he has to face the English press after Arsenal dismantled his new charges in the Champions League qualifiers. To be fair to the ex-England boss, Twente only reached the Champions League because of the very curious Dutch play off system. No one believed they were the second best side in Holland.
Before they had kicked a ball in anger this season the manager lost Orlando Engelaar, the only regular in the Dutch national squad- ironically to rivals in this group, Schalke. The rest of his squad are solid professionals who lie mid table after 5 games of the Eredivisie campaign. City will target this match for 3 points.
FC Schalke
The Blues first match on the road offers the major test in the group. Schalke have become a consistent force in the Bundesliga and came very close to landing the title last year, In fact, they have been runners up 3 times in 7 campaigns. In 2007/08 they made their first Champions League quarter-final.
Despite that success it didn't save the manager from the sack and former Twente boss Fred Rutten is now in charge at the stunning Veltins-Arena.
It's a powerful squad. Along with Engelaar the Royal Blues can call on Kevin Kuranyi, Hamit Altintop, who was terrific for Turkey at Euro 2008, Ze Roberto (ex-Bayern Munich), Peter Lovenkrands and the Peruvian Jefferson Farfan. The whole group is battle hardened and with just one defeat in 7 League games, City can expect a difficult encounter.
Paris St Germain
One of the nearly teams of European football who regularly frustrate their supporters by falling short of the standards their talent should achieve. The team spent most of 2007/08 in the relegation zone and were so poor many of their fans boycotted games in protest. A couple of late wins dodged the bullet and they made the UEFA Cup as losing cup finalists to champions Lyon.
After this disaster , strong action ensued. Seasoned Frenh internationals Claude Makelele and Ludovic Giuly are now at the club along with another ex-Chelsea figure, Mateja Kezman from Fenerbahce. Results have improved a little but PSG are still down in 11th after 3 defeats from 8 League games.
There's no doubt that there is quality in the French side and City can't afford to take them lightly at Eastlands, especially as PSG tend to be better away from their critical supporters. However, if City get on top early they should be able to subdue them. Ex-Rangers boss Paul Le Guen is the man in charge but there is already speculation about his position and he was considered lucky to survive after 2007/08.
Racing Santander
City finish their programme at the least known club in the section. Racing squeezed into 6th position in La Liga last season- a stunning result for a club normally battling relegation. Before 2007/08 their finishing places were 10th, 17th, 16th, 17th and 16th.
Racing made hard work of eliminating Finnish club FC Honka in the qualifiers and have just one win from 6 League games in 2008/09. This is a trip that City shouldn't fear, although naturally Mark Hughes would like qualification wrapped up before this match.
Racing are a club without big stars, though Pedro Munitis is back at his hometown club again after spells with Real Madrid and Deportivo. He has 21 Spanish caps and at 33 is the elder statesman of the squad. Argentinian defender Ezequial Garay is on loan for the season from Real Madrid and was a key man in their Olympic squad.
Verdict
It's often best not to make predictions about Manchester City but failure to finish in the top three would be a disastrous display. City and Schalke are expected to lead the way with the others competing for third.
