Stamford Bridge

Next Game

Chelsea v Man City

Friday, 24 May 2013, 01:30

Friendly Match

Etihad Stadium

Last Game

Man City 2 - 3 Norwich

Sunday, 19 May 2013, 16:00

Barclays Prem

Barry: We still have belief

Gareth Barry has insisted that Manchester City have not given up on their UEFA Champions League dream and are targeting maximum points from their three remaining games.

Last Updated: 06/11/12 at 19:29 Post Comment

Gareth Barry: Believes Manchester City can still qualify for the last 16 of the

Gareth Barry: Believes Manchester City can still qualify for the last 16 of the

The Premier League winners are in danger of early elimination for a second successive season after collecting just one point from their opening three Group D matches.

They now face Ajax in a must-win clash at the Etihad Stadium and Barry claims the team have rallied after losing 3-1 to the Dutch side in Amsterdam a fortnight ago.

He said: "The manager, after the Ajax game, when everyone was disappointed, still instilled us with belief that if we win the (last) three games, then we can go through.

"As players we believe in that too. While it is still possible to qualify - that is our aim - starting tomorrow night against Ajax, we are going to try for three points and go from there."

Roberto Mancini said after the defeat in Amsterdam that City needed a 'miracle' to progress in the competition, but Barry remains confident and is backing his manager.

"The manager has his own way of going about things," said Barry.

"As a group of players we are going into this game, believing we can win them and we can win the Champions League.

"The manager has experience of winning things so you have to listen to what he is saying."

No egos

City opened their latest European challenge with a 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid and then snatched a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund.

Barry, 31, said: "We are finding it tough to put our finger on exactly why it has been tough.

"It is quite clear that we have not produced our best performances against the quality of opposition that are in the Champions League and, when it comes to these games, when you're not producing your best you get found out. That seems to be what has happened.

"I am sure if we could have held on in Madrid it would have set us up a lot differently to where we are at the moment.

"We have been punished on nights when we have not been top of our game."

City have generally performed below their own high standards so far this season, even though they are still unbeaten in the Premier League and just two points off the top after 10 games.

Barry has little time for suggestions that there are ego clashes in the dressing room that could be affecting team spirit or performances.

He said: "Ever since this club went through the change, it has had that thrown at it.

"The big names have come in and whenever there are a few negative results, these things are thrown at the players - egos, people can't get on and whatever.

"But inside the dressing room we are close. We will put that right and make people quiet with performances and that is our target."

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m curious as to what image Real Madrid are trying to re-establish as I always thought their pre-Jose image was one of a bunch of a classless bullies tapping up whoever they wanted while living it large on borrowed money they're never going to pay back.

john matrix
Perez Will Spend Big To Forget Jose...

A

t the start of the season, after the RVP transfer, I confidently claimed that Arsenal would finish above United. I now regret it immensely.

Fuzzy_Dunlop
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

D

aniel Storey generally did very well, going against the City won it last year so they're bound to win it this time grain. As for John Nicholson, I wouldn't trust him to predict correctly what day of the week it will be tomorrow.

Griff
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

Footer 365

Bastian Schweinsteiger aiming to treat Wembley to footballing perfection

Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger aims to treat Wembley to footballing perfection in the Champions League final.

Pardew to remain at the helm

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will remain in charge at St James' Park after holding talks about his future with owner Mike Ashley.

LB: Toffees won't come unstuck

Leighton Baines insists the upheaval of losing manager David Moyes to Manchester United after 11 years in charge will not derail Everton.

Mail Box

More Scared Of Losing AVB Than Bale...

We thought we would have to resort to another mailbox about maths but we've had some grand opinions about Man United, Newcastle, Tottenham and more. Oh and maths...

An Ode To Rafa And Loads More Mails...

We have one Chelsea fan who recognises the job done by Rafa Benitez while there's maths from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. And Shawcross to Arsenal? Nah...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved