Ranking and Grading Manchester City Players on UCL Group Stage Performances
A more dramatic qualification from a Champions League group you will struggle to find. Manchester City, who with five minutes left on Matchday 5 had just two points, miraculously made it through to the last 16 after two late goals against Bayern Munich and a win in Rome.
Eight points is a low total, and City must accept they were poor for much of the campaign, but they won't care one bit. They are through to the knockout phase for the second time in two seasons.
They saved their best for last, too. Their 2-0 win over Roma was by far their finest display in Europe's premier competition since they first qualified back in 2012.
Their season is building nicely, with some real momentum now behind them after six straight wins. Here we take a look back at each player who played for Manuel Pellegrini's side during the group stage and rank and grade them
19. Aleksandar Kolarov
1 of 19
Grade: 5/10
City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov has barely featured in this year's Champions League.
A few brief cameos, including in Rome on Wednesday evening, and one decent showing away to CSKA is all the Serbian has managed. Injury has restricted him, and he will be desperate to play a more active role when the competition resumes in February.
18. Bacary Sagna
2 of 19
Grade: 5.5/10
Played the two games against Bayern and acquitted himself well, particularly in the away match, where his link-up play with Jesus Navas was good.
He was too easily dominated by Robert Lewandowski for Bayern's second in the game at the Etihad, but overall, it's positive for City that they now have a player capable of replacing Pablo Zabaleta when he is need of a rest.
17. Yaya Toure
3 of 19
Grade: 5.5/10
Yaya Toure's influence has been increasing significantly over recent weeks after a difficult start to the season, but in Europe his campaign has been poor.
He was suspended for City's final two group games—the two which they won—after being sent off for a moment of madness in the home defeat to CSKA. His performances before that were lacking quality, particularly in Munich on Matchday 1, which now represents something of a nadir in terms of his City career.
There's little doubt, though, that with City now through and Toure's form improving, he will be a much more significant force come the last 16.
16. Frank Lampard
4 of 19
Grade: 6/10
His influence on domestic affairs for City this season can't be disputed, but in Europe, Frank Lampard has played a restricted role.
He managed just 30 minutes of action in City's first three group games—an excellent performance against Roma which brought calmness and control to City's midfield.
He missed the CSKA Moscow defeat at the Etihad, but played the full 90 minutes against Bayern Munich and did well. He will now be desperate to see his loan extended so he can add to his Champions League appearance record before jetting off to link up with his new side, New York City FC.
15. Stevan Jovetic
5 of 19
Grade: 6/10
Stevan Jovetic has had an underwhelming Champions League campaign so far.
He only made a couple of brief cameos in City's first three group games after being held back by niggling injuries, but then started against CSKA Moscow at home. However, he was taken off at half time after an ineffectual display.
His introduction against Bayern Munich on Matchday 5, however, saw City turn the screw. They'd been struggling to link the attack and midfield before his introduction, and his tenaciousness and ability to make things happen helped City win the match.
Another short cameo in Rome brought his group-stage influence to a close.
14. Fernando
6 of 19
Grade: 6/10
After an injury held him back from capitalising on his excellent start to life at City, Fernando's form is improving again.
He missed the first two Group E matches, but put in a superb second-half display in Moscow. Like many of his team-mates, he was poor in the home defeat to Moscow and the win over Bayern at home, but he really shone alongside Fernandinho in Rome.
Little by little, his understanding of how this City side operates is developing.
13. Gael Clichy
7 of 19
Grade: 6/10
What a strange season Gael Clichy is having.
A poor start which saw him put in some truly awful individual displays has now seen a sharp turnaround.
In Europe, it's been the same. A couple of solid, if unspectacular, displays in City's opening two group games saw Kolarov come in for the match against CSKA in Russia, with Clichy moved to the bench.
A shocking display in the home defeat to CSKA followed, with Clichy culpable for their second goal after a shaky all-round showing.
However, against Bayern he was good, shackling Arjen Robben well, before an assured display in Rome helped City progress.
12. Samir Nasri
8 of 19
Grade: 6.5/10
Groin surgery has held Samir Nasri back in Europe. He played in Munich in the opening game but spent too much time chasing the ball as City struggled to contain the Germans. He then missed the proceeding two games, before a substitute appearance against CSKA Moscow at home which had little impact.
Another muted display at home to Bayern followed, before a wonderful performance in Rome, which included a superb strike that left Morgan De Sanctis with no chance, helped seal City's passage through to the knockout stages.
11. Eliaquim Mangala
9 of 19
Grade: 6.5/10
City's big summer signing, Eliaquim Mangala, has had a mixed start to life in English football.
He's made mistakes—costly ones, at that—but there are signs of an excellent defender buried somewhere beneath his erratic decision-making.
His first Champions League appearance this season came away to CSKA, where he looked solid for much of the game but was let down by his distribution.
He missed the return match with the Russians at the Etihad but then starred in City's win over Bayern, which proved to be the catalyst for their qualification.
However, like many in the City squad, he saved his finest hour for Rome on Matchday 6. He was excellent against the Serie A side and will take great confidence from a heroic display.
10. Edin Dzeko
10 of 19
Grade: 6.5/10
It's been a difficult campaign for Edin Dzeko so far in Europe this season.
He lead the line superbly in Munich on Matchday 1, but then disappointed against Roma, never really giving the Italians' defence enough to think about. He set up a goal in Moscow with some clever play, but then, once again, was on the periphery of things.
He came on against CSKA at home for the last 25 minutes as City chased a goal, but the service to him was poor, before missing the win over Bayern through injury.
He returned, though, and spearheaded City's attack in Rome and, despite lacking match fitness, he ran himself into the ground.
9. Jesus Navas
11 of 19
Grade: 7/10
Jesus Navas started well away in Munich, providing City with a constant outlet, and should have had a penalty against Roma in the home draw. An ineffectual second-half display in Moscow, though, had some questioning his ability in games where City don't dominate possession.
He was anonymous in the home defeat to CSKA and was replaced at half time, but was then one of City's best players at home to Bayern in the dramatic 3-2 win.
And he played superbly in Rome, particularly in the first half, where his deliveries and pace were City's biggest threat.
8. Martin Demichelis
12 of 19
Grade: 7/10
Solid and dependable. Very few would have thought that would end up being a legitimate comment on Martin Demichelis in a City shirt when he was struggling this time last season, but he's been a revelation for months now.
He was stoic in Munich in the opener and was desperately unlucky to be on the losing side, but difficult displays against Roma and CSKA at home followed.
But a wonderful game in Rome, where he looked unbeatable despite Roma trying everything they could to make a breakthrough, was key to City's qualification.
7. Fernandinho
13 of 19
Grade: 7.5/10
If there's one player who embodies City's recent renaissance, it's Fernandinho.
After a slow start to the season, the Brazilian is now flying.
His Group E campaign started well in Munich, where he did a fine job of covering Toure's deficiencies.
However, he was poor at home to Roma where City lost the midfield battle badly and was somewhat ineffective in Moscow when he came on for the last 30 minutes.
He was then sent off after coming on as a substitute at home to CSKA, meaning he missed the Bayern win, but a truly magnificent display in Rome, where he was the constant driving force for City from midfield, rectified some of his wrongs.
6. David Silva
14 of 19
Grade: 7.5/10
David Silva provided City their best attacking threat in the defeat to Bayern, but then gave two underwhelming displays in the subsequent matches against Roma and CSKA.
Injury then saw him miss the next two, before a wonderful cameo in Rome, where he kept possession of the ball at a time when City were in need of some control, reminded everyone what City have been missing.
A truly remarkable player.
5. Vincent Kompany
15 of 19
Grade: 7.5/10
Played in all of City's opening five group games and, despite the odd error, led the side with his usual distinction.
He missed the win in Rome, though, after Pellegrini decided not to risk him.
4. James Milner
16 of 19
Grade: 7.5/10
James Milner has been a standout player for City this term, and he can be pleased with his Champions League performances thus far.
Two impressive substitute appearances in the opening two games saw him start against CSKA Moscow, and he scored one and could have had another. He was one of the few players to escape the defeat to Moscow at home with any kind of credit and did reasonably well in the win over Bayern.
Another tireless display in Rome capped a good group stage for Milner.
3. Pablo Zabaleta
17 of 19
Grade: 7.5/10
Pablo Zabaleta remains one of the world's finest full-backs.
He missed the defeat in Munich through suspension, but was solid against Roma at home and was City's best player in Moscow, providing an attacking outlet throughout and setting up City's second.
An error against CSKA blighted that performance, and he was rested against Bayern at the Etihad, but a stirring display and a wonderful goal in Rome in the final game capped a decent group stage for the Argentinian.
2. Joe Hart
18 of 19
Grade: 8.5/10
A world-class display against Bayern on Matchday 1 saw Joe Hart get his Champions League campaign off to a flyer, before another string of fine saves against Roma continued his fine form.
Helpless in Moscow as CSKA were invited on to City in the second half, it was a similar story when the Russians visited the Etihad.
Culpable for Bayern's equaliser in the home match—a low free kick from Xabi Alonso—but another excellent display in Rome capped a fine campaign to date for the England No. 1.
1. Sergio Aguero
19 of 19
Grade: 8.5/10
Was rested against Bayern after concerns over his fitness coming into the new season, but he came on and nearly scored late into the tie. He then won and scored the penalty against Roma in the 1-1 draw before fading somewhat.
He then played superbly in the first half out in Moscow, scoring one and helping create another, before being one of City's few dangermen in the defeat to the Russians at home.
His two goals in the final five minutes against Bayern Munich rescued City's campaign and may have kick-started their fans' appreciation of the competition, before injury cruelly robbed him of his place in Rome.
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