The Changes Manchester City Need to Make to Become Champions League Winners

For Manchester City to fully realise their ambition of being one of the world’s elite clubs, they need to improve their performance in the Champions League. Since they re-entered Europe’s top knockout competition in 2011, their record of two group-stage exits and two last-16 defeats has seen them face criticism.

When you have spent as much as City have, better is expected.

Belief and confidence appear to be the main issues. City have dazzled when playing in the Premier League in recent seasons, often destroying teams with their insatiable appetite for goals, yet on the biggest stage, against sides with technical proficiency and European know-how, they have sometimes looked inhibited.

There has also been a defensive issue. One look at City's Champions League results since Roberto Mancini led them back to the big time in 2011 shows there has to be some serious improvements at the back. They’ve kept just four clean sheets in 28 matches, an appalling record that gets to the heart of their problems.

It isn’t an indictment of their back four and goalkeeper, necessarily, perhaps more an indication that, as a collective, they simply haven’t been good enough at keeping their shape and recovering possession.

Then, of course, there is the tactical issues which have blighted their displays in recent seasons. Manuel Pellegrini has been accused of naivety on a number of occasions, most notably during the first leg of this season's last-16 tie with Barcelona at the Etihad.

He stuck with his favoured 4-4-2 formation, but City were wide open, particularly in midfield where Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta pulled the strings and dictated play too easily. Yes, City were without Yaya Toure, their influential midfielder, but it’s unlikely even he could have changed anything such was Barcelona’s dominance.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Why Pellegrini felt he had to try and win a two-legged tie in the first 45 minutes remains one of the great mysteries of City’s disappointing season, and it was particularly disconcerting given he had made the same mistake numerous times.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona at home last season, Roma at home this. The list goes on. There’s nothing embarrassing about trying to keep things tight early in matches against the best, and Pellegrini needs to show a willingness to adapt.

There are holes, too, in the makeup of City’s squad. This summer will surely see City revamp their playing staff after a season characterised by inertia. The average age of their squad is close to 29 and youth, pace and hunger needs injecting into the side.

City don’t have a world-class ball carrier, the kind of player who will pick the ball up and run at pace towards the opposition area. Chelsea have Eden Hazard. Liverpool have Raheem Sterling. Bayern Munich have Arjen Robben. Barcelona have Lionel Messi.

Jesus Navas is the closest thing City have, but despite being an excellent squad player, he's far from world class. It’s an area of weakness the club must address.

Having that kind of penetrative player is hugely important. They can frighten defences when carrying the ball forward but also relieve pressure on the defence, giving them time to reshape and reorganise. Finding one won’t be easy, but City will surely be looking.

Their strike force is also in need of reinforcements. Wilfried Bony’s January arrival has brought some power and hold-up play, but the burden of goals is still squarely laid at the feet of Sergio Aguero. Edin Dzeko, who has scored just six this campaign, could be sold, and Stevan Jovetic, whose City career has been punctuated by injury and poor form, will surely leave after being dropped from the Champions League squad when Bony came in.

Finding players who offer pace, movement and, most importantly, goals will be a priority for Pellegrini and Txiki Begiristain, the sporting director, this summer. Alexandre Lacazette and Alvaro Morata fit the profile City need and will surely interest them.

However, regardless of who City signs to reinvigorate their ageing squad, finding some belief in the Champions League is the priority. City have been the dominant force in English football over the past four seasons and they deserve their place at the top table of European football.

Playing in fear and without the same confidence they do domestically is their biggest obstacle to Champions League success.

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 are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.