Musa says CSKA don’t fear ‘weak’ City

Champions League Group E

CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa claims Manchester City are “weak” opponents but it is unfair that his team have to face them without supporters.

The Russian side take on City behind closed doors in the Champions League tonight as punishment for the racist behaviour of their fans.

After losing their opening two games against Roma and Bayern Munich, it is a game CSKA need to win to have serious hopes of qualification.

Musa is confident CSKA can do that as they face a City side who have also made a disappointing start in the competition.

Asked about City, Musa said: “As you can see, they are very weak this year. We are going to use that advantage against them.

“In a couple of games they haven’t been that good. They are very weak in the defence, so we are going to do our best to work against that.

“I think we are going to have a great opportunity because of the quality of the players we have.”

The game will be played in an odd atmosphere at the Khmiki Arena with supporters barred from the stadium.

CSKA have been punished by European governing body Uefa over crowd racism incidents three times in the last year.

The first of those offences came when City visited in the same competition a year ago and fans directed monkey chants at Yaya Toure.

Asked if the situation was unfair, Nigeria international Musa said: “Yes, it is unfair.”

City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Toure is ready to deliver as he returns to the scene of last year’s controversy.

The crowd will not be a factor this time, instead the focus is on a game City need to win to ignite their campaign, as well as the form of Toure.

The Ivory Coast international has still not returned to his formidable best after a difficult summer but Pellegrini has seen encouraging signs.

The City boss said: “I don’t agree that Yaya has had a bad season.

“Maybe if you compare his performances this year to last season, when he had a brilliant performance, maybe he just needs time to get back to that level.

“Every game he is playing better. He had a very complicated summer, but I think now he is arriving back towards his normal performance. But I don’t think this team depends on one player.

If we didn’t play well in some games before, it’s because the whole team didn’t play well, not only Yaya.”

Toure’s performances have sparked debate over his best position, and whether he would not be better playing in a permanent advanced role free of defensive responsibilities.

But Pellegrini said: “He can play both positions but he will continue in the position where, last season, he was best player in the Premier League.”

City are in their fourth season of Champions League football and are still to make an impact in the competition. After their previous disappointments there was a feeling they needed to come of age this term but their results have again been underwhelming.

Right-back Pablo Zabaleta, however, insists City will not ease up in their drive to progress.

He said: “We are improving year by year, with a great group of players, but to win this competition is so difficult.

“It is one that you would love to win, but you have to work really hard to do it and we have to learn from the mistakes we have made in the last years to make progress.”

The other controversy surrounding last year’s game at CSKA, which City came from behind to win 2-1, was over the poor state of the pitch.

Pellegrini said: “I have no concerns this year. It is not a bad pitch and I don’t think we will have any problems with it.”