Why Manchester City Look Well Equipped for Assault on 2015/16 Champions League

Manchester City have had a difficult relationship with the Champions League since they first entered the competition in 2011.

Roberto Mancini struggled to get to grips with it, overseeing two disappointing group-stage exits. Mancini lost his job primarily because his autocratic management style alienated him from the players and staff, but his Champions League record was certainly a factor.

City crave success in Europe’s elite knockout competition. Mancini didn’t appear capable of delivering. His first campaign was seen as unfortunate, as City crashed out having secured 10 points—an amount that would almost certainly guarantee qualification under normal circumstances­—but the following season was dreadfully poor. 

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City were insipid, exiting with just three points and failing to win a game. City’s chairman and owners are patient and measured, but given the level of investment in the squad, it simply wasn’t good enough.

In came Manuel Pellegrini, a manager who had taken Villarreal and Malaga, two European lightweights, to unprecedented Champions League heights. If he could perform well with such limited resources, surely he could manage to oversee progress at City.

And in a way, he has, qualifying for the last 16 in his two seasons in charge, only to lose to Barcelona, arguably the greatest club side of all time. However, last season saw regression, with City limping over the finish line having only managing a point in two games against CSKA Moscow.

Losing to Barcelona over two legs is understandable. Losing at home to CSKA and barely moving beyond the group stage most certainly isn’t.

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The one factor linking each of their Champions League campaigns has been the difficulty of their draws. City, it seems, are cursed when the groups are decided. It’s made it difficult for them to top their groups, so when they've progressed, they’ve been faced with strong opposition.

And once again this season, they haven’t been given an easy ride. It’s perhaps less problematic than their recent draws, but a group containing last season’s runners-up Juventus, Europa League winners Sevilla and Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach is by no means straightforward. In fact, when compared to other English sides' draws, it becomes clear City have been handed a difficult task.

But this is a new-look City side. A summer spending spree masterminded by Pellegrini and the club’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain has revitalised a squad that appeared tired last season. They’ve won four straight games and currently top the Premier League, having scored 10 goals without reply. But it’s the quality of their play, rather than the results themselves, which have impressed the most.

City look better in every department. The added pace provided by Raheem Sterling, who was signed from Liverpool, is the most notable new dimension. City looked lethargic and slow last season, but with Sterling, Jesus Navas and Sergio Aguero all in tandem, as well as a revitalised Fernandinho in midfield, they seem completely reenergised.

Add in Kevin De Bruyne, signed from Wolfsburg last week for a club-record fee after arduous negotiations, and City have never looked as capable as they do right now.

They can play different styles now, too. They can play at speed, moving the ball quickly, but they can also slow things down and play possession football once a lead is established. They’re also adept at playing on the break, using the pace of Sterling and the passing ability of David Silva to cut teams apart.

With Nicolas Otamendi arriving to bolster a defence already much improved after Vincent Kompany’s return to form, it’s doubtful City have boasted such strength in depth since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.

Whether they are yet a match for Europe’s elite—Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich—remains to be seen, but City look far better equipped this season than at any other time since entering the competition in 2011, when they had just won the FA Cup.

Winning the Champions League takes time, and City’s owners have displayed consistent patience. However, they will want evidence of improvement this season. City could, and should, impact the latter stages of the competition, given the strength of their newly constructed squad.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.