Pellegrini: Apart from Barca, all CL teams the same

Mark Holmes
Manuel Pellegrini: Wants to stay in Premier League and fancies Everton job

Manuel Pellegrini: Wants to stay in Premier League and fancies Everton job

Manuel Pellegrini believes all of the Champions League quarter-finalists apart from Barcelona would have provided Manchester City with a similar test.

City defeated Dynamo Kiev over two legs to reach the last eight of Europe’s elite competition for the first time.

They were on Friday paired with Paris Saint-Germain, who eliminated Chelsea in the last 16.

While Pellegrini accepts avoiding Barcelona – who comfortably saw off Arsenal’s challenge and will next face fellow Spanish side Atletico Madrid – was preferable, he does not believe there is much to choose between the other contenders.

“It is a difficult draw as always. When you are in the eight best teams of Europe, always it is a difficult draw,” Pellegrini said.

“I have said that in this moment I think Barcelona is the team that makes the difference, all the other teams are the same. It is always a difficult game. You can’t expect less.

“You never know what is an easy draw. We are in the eight best teams, maybe one team can have less of a ‘name’ than another, but if they are in the same stage it is because they deserve it, they have eliminated important teams. You can’t have an easy draw.”

City will travel to Paris for the first leg, which takes place on April 6, with the return scheduled for April 12 at the Etihad Stadium.

Pellegrini said: “I always prefer to finish at home, to have the first leg away, so you know what you must do in the home game.”

City captain Vincent Kompany is doubtful for both matches after suffering a calf injury against Kiev.