5 Ways Manchester City Can Improve Champions League Hopes

In Manchester City's four seasons in the Champions League, it's fair to say they have underwhelmed and disappointed.

Bayern Munich's big win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico has given them a lifeline this season, and progression to the last 16 remains a possibility. However, they're likely to need nine points from the remaining three games—a difficult situation for any side.

What exactly is the problem? Is it personnel? Is it a tactical problem? Or is it a systemic failure that needs a root and branch review?

Here are five areas that City need to improve if they are to become a force on the European stage. 

1. Become Tactically More Flexible

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Manuel Pellegrini has brought many great things to City since his arrival last summer. An attacking freedom, a happiness around the training ground absent under Roberto Mancini and two trophies in his first season. He's been a superb appointment.

He isn't infallible, though. His commitment to a 4-4-2 formation, with an accent on attacking football, is admirable. For the most part, it works extremely well.

However, on numerous occasions, more flexibility has been needed—particularly in Europe.

A central midfield pairing can sometimes be outnumbered. It happened to City against Bayern Munich at home last season, and it happened again in the disappointing 1-1 draw with Roma at the Etihad during the current campaign.

Sides which go with a three-man midfield and look to dominate possession with technically gifted players excel against City when they line up with a 4-4-2. They outpass the Citizens and are too comfortable in the key area of the pitch, with too much time to dictate play.

Against Roma, Miralem Pjanic was the spare man, and he was given time and space to control the play.

Pellegrini needs to alter his approach more readily. An ideological approach which prioritises attractive football is admirable, but a pragmatic view is also needed. 

2. Display More Self-Belief

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On paper, City have one of the best squads in the Champions League. World-class stars such as Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero are augmented by an array of quality supporting players. They have strength in depth and enough match-winning magic to feel confident of European success.

Yet, when it comes to playing against European sides, they lack self-belief. They play within themselves too often, and rarely—if ever—display the same swagger that has seen them earn domestic success. 

If City are ever going to impact the latter stages of Europe's finest knockout competition, they need to believe in themselves. 

3. Learn to Kill Sides off

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It's cost them more than once already this season. City's inability to kill teams off is becoming a real concern.

Despite going one goal up against Roma and two up against CSKA, City took just a point from each of those games. Rather than going for the jugular and looking to assert their dominance—like Bayern did in Rome earlier this week in their 7-1 win—City stepped back and looked nervous, paying the ultimate price in the end.

City need to show more killer instinct. 

4. Defend Better as a Team

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Defensively, City still need work. That's not a criticism of the back four, but rather a realisation that they often concede too much space to the opposition in European games as a team.

The second-half against CSKA was the most obvious example, but Roma's equaliser and subsequent first-half domination also laid bare the problem. City must be more disciplined defensively if they are to maximise their potential in the Champions League. 

5. Add a Couple of Missing Links

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An extra addition of quality in the right areas is still needed. The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are still so far ahead, City cannot rest on their laurels in the transfer market.

Buoyed by the sale of Alvaro Negredo—whose permanent move to Valencia will go through next summer—City should have money to work with. Marco Reus and one of Ross Barkley or Paul Pogba are likely to top City's wishlist, and a top-class left-back would also help their cause.