PSG Face Tougher Manchester City Test but Victory Is Still a Must

Paris Saint-Germain have been drawn against Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

This is the second time this season they will take on English opposition in Europe’s elite club competition, but this tie will be much different.

Last Sunday, the Parisians secured their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title—their sixth of all time—with the 9-0 demolition of Troyes at the Stade de l’Aube, leading to more suggestions that the French league is weak, playing down the accomplishments of Laurent Blanc’s side.

PSG are 18 points better off than where they were this time last season. Lyon only had six points more than AS Monaco in second have gained.

It’s not just about the inconsistencies of the other 18 teams, it’s the complete dominance and ruthlessness that the champions have shown.

Victory over Chelsea, winning both games 2-1, was dismissed as the Ligue 1 side taking on a poor side that has endured a poor season in the Premier League.

Manchester City’s form has not been great of late. Although they won the Capital One Cup final at Wembley, in the Premier League games against Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, they lost when it mattered most.

However, regardless of where they are positioned in the league come the start of April, the expectations around this game will be as high as ever, with both very closely matched in ability and ambition.

Former France international Thierry Henry told UEFA.com after the draw: 

"

You see a different Manchester City in the Champions League than you see in the Premier League. Those nights are special and you need the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure to turn up on those special nights. Paris were much better than Chelsea, they controlled the game at Stamford Bridge. City may not have the ball, it will be a different approach, but you need everybody involved to be on their game on the night to beat Paris.

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Both clubs' recent success has been built on outside investment, with both harbouring ambitions of conquering Europe and lifting the Champions League. City should be slightly further ahead than PSG, but this is the first time they have reached the last eight of the competition.

The problem for both sides has been coming up against a Barcelona brick wall.

Over the last three years, City lost twice to the Spaniards in the last 16, PSG were beaten twice in the quarter-finals by the same opposition.

Now, one of them will reach the semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Proving once again that in the Champions League, the draw is everything—no matter which round you believe you should be able to reach.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told the club's official website:

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We are very ambitious in this competition. We are ready for these two matches. When you reach the quarter-finals, only great teams remain. We have a lot of respect for Manchester City.

I have the utmost confidence that our players will produce another great European performance. I am convinced that our team will now keep the momentum going after overcoming Chelsea. We will do all that we can to offer our supporters the dream of bringing the Club into the last four of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1995.

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This is PSG's chance to show they belong with Europe's elite and that they are building a world-class squad. If they fail, their place at the top of a so-called weak league could forever see their ambitions portrayed as delusions of grandeur.