• Champions League

Silva: City can still beat Barcelona

ESPN staff
February 25, 2015
Pellegrini: City still have a chance

David Silva has refused to accept Manchester City are out of the Champions League despite their 2-1 first-leg home defeat to Barcelona.

Luis Suarez scored during a dismal opening half-hour for the hosts, but Sergio Aguero pulled one back in the second half before a Gael Clichy red card disrupted City's attempted comeback.

Asked if they can rescue the tie, SIlva said: "Playing like we did in the second half, yes. If you come out like that, we will have chances. If we come out like we did in the first half, we won't.

"They were much more cohesive than us on the pitch, picking up all the loose balls, and apart from that, until the goal we were in it but once they scored we were bad.

"Second half, though, we got better. We had chances to equalise but once the red card came, we couldn't do more. After that, against Barca, it's complicated.

"We came in at half-time and knew we weren't playing well. But the team knows how to figure things out, and in the end, one thing is that it could have been worse."

Lionel Messi won Barcelona a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, but could not convert from the spot - something Silva says has kept his side in the contest.

"With 2-1, we have some chance," he added. "At 3-1, it would have been much more difficult.

"It's a key moment now. We have a trip to Liverpool, who are also very difficult."

David Silva admits Manchester City were poor in the first half against Barcelona © Getty Images
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