• Champions League

Aguero travels as Mancini prepares for Madrid

ESPN staff
September 17, 2012
Javi Garcia impressed for Manchester City at Stoke © PA Photos
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Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City are improving defensively as they prepare for Tuesday's Champions League clash away to Real Madrid, and he hopes to be boosted by the return of striker Sergio Aguero.

City are still seeking their first clean sheet of the new season but Mancini feels that - after a 3-2 win over Southampton and a 2-2 draw with Liverpool - the 3-1 win over QPR and 1-1 draw at Stoke indicate things are getting better.

"I think we've improved in the last two games because we've only conceded one goal," he said. "In the first two games, we conceded two goals. Now is the time not to concede any goals.

"This is the first game in the Champions League for us this year and I think it will be a fantastic game, a fantastic for moment for everyone at the club."

As well as Real Madrid, City have been drawn against Ajax and Borussia Dortmund. Having failed to negotiate a group including Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal last season, it is likely to pose Mancini's men significant problems.

"The group stage is difficult, like last year. We start again on a difficult pitch against a top team, and we should be ready for it to be very difficult. They have fantastic players, fantastic history and, for these reasons, if we want to do well there, we should play very, very well."

Mancini will monitor the fitness of Aguero after deciding not to use him in Saturday's draw at Stoke. The Argentina striker has not played since picking up an injury on the opening day of the season.

"I think he can have a chance," Mancini said. "Sergio will travel with us. He worked with the team in the last three days before the Stoke game. We didn't want to take any risks with him - but maybe he can be ready for Madrid.

"Will he start? I don't know."

City also have Gareth Barry available following his return as a substitute in the Stoke game; Javi Garcia, who caught the eye at the Britannia Stadium, is another option for the defensive midfield role.

"I'm happy for Gareth after three months to play again," Mancini said. "It's important for us because he's an important player and he had 30 minutes and did well.

"Gareth can do this job - Javi, Jack [Rodwell] also - but we have our style. We try to play football, always. We played [at Stoke] without David [Silva] because he was so tired after the international break. After an international break, it's always difficult."

The challenge at the Britannia Stadium could hardly have been further removed from the one awaiting City at the Bernabeu but the Italian is relishing the task. "I think that will be a different game," he said. "Here, every game is difficult - not only for us but for Manchester United, Chelsea... it's a difficult pitch.

"I think it will be a good game. We can win, we can lose, we can draw. When you play Champions League, every team is a top team, every game is difficult. If you play v Real or Barca, you are up against 100 years of history. They won everything. For this reason, I also think it will be difficult.

"For all our players, this is a good experience. I think there can be incredible moments in the career of every player because we play against a team with a history of 100 years.

"After the group stage, if we did the same points as last year, I think we go through this time. Okay, we made some mistakes but, in the end, we went into the Europa League. If we get ten points, we can get through."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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