Villarreal vs Manchester City preview - Garrido targets City scalp

Posted Wednesday, November 02, 2011 by PA

Under-pressure Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido believes his inexperienced youngsters can defy the odds and produce a shock Champions League win over Manchester City.

The Primera Division side have endured a miserable start to the season compounded by the loss of a host of key players to injury.

Despite claiming a much-needed and morale-boosting win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, the 'Yellow Submarine' are a disappointing 13th in the Primera Division and without a point in Champions League Group A.

They were unfortunate to lose to a last-gasp Sergio Aguero goal at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago but have since lost their most dangerous player that night, star striker Giuseppe Rossi, to long-term injury.

With the likes of Nilmar, Marco Ruben, Marcos Senna, Javier Camunas, Cani and Cristian Zapata also sidelined, Garrido has been forced to call up young strikers Joselu and Adolfo Enriquez from the B and C teams.

Garrido said: "We have reached the tipping point - we cannot afford to have any more injuries.

"But it is not new, it has been a problem since the start of the season.

"We have got to believe we can do it and play to the maximum.

"The hope is the young players can prove a revelation at this time.

"We are playing in the Champions League and this will be a good moment for them to prove themselves."

Villarreal's win on Saturday was their first in eight games in all competitions and only their third all season.

After finishing fourth in Spain last season, the campaign so far has been a major disappointment and their task against Barclays Premier League leaders City at El Madrigal would appear a daunting one.

Yet Garrido is not fazed ahead of the must-win clash and has no intention of sacrificing the competition to shore up domestic issues.

The 42-year-old said: "We think the same as always.

"We are playing a great team in Manchester City, they are very high in the league, but we will try to do our very best.

"It is obvious we have to win. We have to play our own game 100% and look to create opportunities.

"We will have 11 players on the field and even if we are inexperienced in the front line everyone will play to win."

City are unbeaten in the Premier League this season with nine wins from 10 games but travel to Spain lying in third spot in their Champions League group on four points, three behind leaders Bayern Munich and one adrift of Napoli.

City defender Micah Richards said on his club's website: "We'd obviously rather be going to Villarreal with more points on the board but it's not the end of the world.

"We will go into the game in great confidence and look to win the game - if we do, it could put a completely different complexion on the group."

He added: "It could work in our favour that Villarreal need to win because they will have to come at us which will give us the opportunity to do our stuff on the counter attack.

"In both our home games in the Champions League we found it hard to break down the opposition because they put so many men behind the ball, but I can't see that happening in the away games.

Mario Balotelli has been included in City's Champions League squad for the first time having missed the first three group games due to a suspension hanging over from last season.

Owen Hargreaves, who has been nursing a slight calf injury anyway, is ineligible while Carlos Tevez remains an outcast.