Why Manuel Pellegrini's Champions League Optimism for Man City Has Foundation

After weeks of scrutiny and criticism of their Champions League credentials after another stuttering campaign, Manchester City face Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening with the knowledge a win would see them go into their last group game with a chance of qualification.

It also gives them an opportunity to banish the negativity and question marks over their ability to perform in Europe’s elite knockout competition, and Manuel Pellegrini feels “sure” his side can go to Rome on Matchday 6 with qualification still a possibility.

City have just two points from their four matches so far, but Bayern’s dominance coupled with the incompetence of Roma and CSKA Moscow means they still harbour hopes of progressing to the last 16 for the second consecutive season.

It’s remarkable that after such a lacklustre four games, City still have a realistic chance of going through.

Pellegrini was asked whether his side may be able to play with the kind of freedom previously absent in their other Group E matches, given very few expect City to go through, but he appeared positive.

“I don’t know who are those people who don’t believe what we can do it,” he said. “This team, and me personally, we have a lot of trust we can do it, and I am sure we can continue having chances [of progression] to the last game.”

Jon Super/Associated Press

Bayern have already qualified as group winners and are missing a host of players through injury, including Philipp Lahm, who will be out for three months with a fractured ankle. Holger Badstuber, Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez, Claudio Pizarro and Pepe Reina will be missing until the new year, too.

With that being said, City are without Yaya Toure and Fernandinho through suspension. Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov are out with injuries.

Bayern know a win would see them almost certainly eliminate City—a side who have played below par this season but who are much better than their form suggests—so there’s still plenty of incentive for them to chase a victory.

Bayern would rather see the back of the Manchester outfit, rather than face them later in the competition when their form will likely have improved.

The absence of Toure and Fernandino leaves City short in midfield, but Pellegrini believes Frank Lampard’s experience could come to the fore, saying: “Of course both of them are very important players for us.

“Also we don’t have David Silva and must try and find a solution. The experience of Frank Lampard is very important and [James] Milner also.

“We will see tomorrow not only the names we play but the way we play.”

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Pellegrini says Aguero and Jovetic sat out training with a "small problem" as a precaution but in squad to face Bayern #MCFC #FCBM

— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) November 24, 2014"

Former Bayern defender Martin Demichelis, one of the club’s best players this season, believes the Germans will still approach the game in the same way they always do, regardless of having already qualified.

“It could help us that they have already qualified, but I know the German mentality is always the same,” the Argentine said.

“Germans work as they think, and I am sure they will come here to win. It won’t be easy. It may be they won’t field their strongest starting 11, but they have the quality of players in the squad and on the bench.”

City have kept just four clean sheets in their 18 competitive games this season, and that will surely have to improve if they want to beat a Bayern side who are seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and have one of the best squads in the Champions League.

Jon Super/Associated Press

City’s win and improved performance against Swansea on Saturday was a huge boost given their form going into the international break. One win in six had seen them face serious question marks over their ability to defend their Premier League crown and make it to the last 16 in the Champions League, but a round of international matches took some of the heat out of the situation.

Their win over Swansea wasn’t vintage, but it will have injected some much-needed belief into their side.

Pellegrini’s confidence that City can go to Roma on Matchday 6 and still have a chance to qualify may take some by surprise, but this group, Bayern aside, has been so poor it's hardly misplaced.

City need a big win in this competition to show they belong at the top table of the game. This is the perfect opportunity.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.