Manchester City got their NextGen campaign under way last night at home against Paris Saint Germain. After the unsuccessful debut campaign last year the young Citizens were hoping for a better time of it this time round. However they performed toothlessly against the French side and were sunk by an impressive brace from French-Croatian Nicholas Rajsel.
City failed to pick up any points in their last campaign and after a total of 7 NextGen series fixtures they still have yet to pick up a solitary point in the Champions League for young players.
Despite all the hustle and bustle of Transfer Deadline day Roberto Mancini took time out of his busy schedule to come and see his young charges in action and truth be told Attillio Lombardo’s men started off well, playing a high tempo and not allowing PSG to settle into a rhythm. However a mistake from George Evans allowed PSG to create an opportunity that the ruthless Rajsel duly converted.
It was a game of few chances with Manchester City’s best opportunity coming in the form of Slovakian midfielder Albert Rusnak’s free kick. Goal bound and powerful it was nonetheless impressively stopped by Les Parisiens keep Alphonse Areola.
The tie was wrapped up with 12 minutes remaining as PSG continued to dominate possession it eventually lead to another chance for the impressive Rajsel, who delivered a classy finish with the outside of his foot.
Mancini would most likely not have been too impressed with what he saw from City as they struggled to match PSG’s possession game for large periods. Man City’s next game comes in 2 weeks time on the 13th of September, when they welcome Fenerbahce to the UK and will aim to finally win their first ever NextGen Series points against a Turkish side who impressed in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Juventus in Turin.
The next fixture in the series sees Scottish side Celtic get their campaign underway against impressive Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon next Thursday.
images: © Andrew Brannan, © Andrew Brannan
Mathew Nash
@hitcmathewnashGoogle+more stories from Mathew Nash
I’m Mathew Nash a 23 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.
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