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Champions League Group F: City Go Dutch In Group Opener.

By Jason Bardwell

ALMELO, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 09: Feyenoord Head Coach / Manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks on during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Heracles Almelo and Feyenoord Rotterdam held at Polman Stadion on September 9, 2017 in Almelo, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
ALMELO, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 09: Feyenoord Head Coach / Manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks on during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Heracles Almelo and Feyenoord Rotterdam held at Polman Stadion on September 9, 2017 in Almelo, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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The weekend saw a great result for Pep and the Blues. Obviously, a ridiculous controversy surrounded the fact that an opposition player was sent off but, as I had written in a previous post, was not the referee’s fault. I prefer to focus on how ruthless Manchester City was in the remainder of the game as they put Liverpool to the sword.

Wednesday we must turn our attention to the Champions League. Any congratulations from the weekend need to be put to the back of the mind as we face a different challenge against Feyenoord.

History: 

Again, it’s another first for us. Twice UEFA Cup winners Feyenoord have a great pedigree in European football. European Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and five times Intertoto Cup winners.

Manchester City has never played Feyenoord competitively but the Dutch side did beat United 1-0 in last seasons Europa League. The winning goal coming from Vilhena. Historically, at home against English sides, they have a W5, D1, L6 record. City’s record against Dutch sides, however, reads 2-2-1. Those should give City encouragement as if they needed it.

Gio has since left the field of play and is now their manager, but the side is a long way away from the golden era of the 1960’s and 70’s. Domestically they have had success over the years, collecting 15 Eredivisie titles and 12 KNVB Cups. Internationally they’ve collected one European Cup and two UEFA Cups.

We have shared some personnel with the opposition. Harry Topping was on our payroll as a player in 1935, although he never actually played in a first team match. Later he went to manage Feyenoord for the 1950-51 season.

For the 2011-12 season, we loaned them John Guidetti, where he scored 20 goals in 23 appearances and in 2003 Kevin Keegan brought Paul Bosvelt to Manchester from the Rotterdam side.

Wednesdays Game:

I am wondering if Giovanni will be feeling the pressure before the kick off on Wednesday. As I described above, the Dutch side has been very successful both domestically and Internationally. That said, this will be Feyenoord’s first venture into the Champions League group stage since the 2002/03 season. I’m not saying selling Bosvelt to us was their undoing, but it’s a weird coincidence, right?

City, on the other hand, enter their sixth consecutive Champions League campaign. This is Pep’s competition, and certainly the number one target for the City board for this season. Success would be to progress beyond where they ended last time. A run, much like Manuel Pellegrini’s last season at the Blues, could be considered a minimum.

As far as lineups go, Vincent Kompany is the only doubt, although I have a sneaky suspicion he might be involved. For Feyenoord, their star striker, Nicolai Jorgensen, is out injured for the visit of City.

Domestically they have enjoyed the majority of possession in games so far this season, as you might expect. However, looking at the friendly game against Real Sociedad in pre season, and I realize it was only preseason, it was the visitors who enjoyed the majority of the possession and enjoyed more shots and corners. To know how frustrating as that was for Feyenoord you only need to look at the fouls committed by the hosts, 22.

How Should We Line Up:

Van Bronkhorst has two younger players at the back, something the likes of Aguero and co will be licking their lips at. A 20-year-old right back, on loan from Fiorentina and a center back of the same age, will not be able to have any mistakes in their game. Behind them, in goal, could be Brad Jones. The ex Liverpool player, aged 35 now, will have to be very vocal with his back line, drawing on his experience playing at the highest level.

Other than Jones and Captain El Ahmadi, who are both in their 30’s, GVB has youth on his side. Seven of the starters in their last outing was under 27. Depending on how they handle the pressure that could be a good thing if they play with the confidence of youth, or bad if they retreat in their shells at the opposition.

All out attack is the only way Pep knows how to play and I expect a similar lineup to the one we saw Saturday. Lots of pace on the wings and a lot of time in their half.