City director wary of Dynamo Kyiv
Instead City got Dynamo Kyiv, where the away leg will be played behind closed doors due to UEFA racism sanctions.
Manchester City will play a Champions League game behind closed doors for the second successive year after being drawn against Dynamo Kyiv in the knockout stages.
And Begiristain was keen to offer a reminder that the Premier League team remain relative newcomers to elite European competition, despite the considerable resources at their disposal.
Manchester City came top of their group in the Champions League for the first time this season.
“City are a strong team with great players, but we need to go out and perform against them”, he told UEFA.com.
“It’s never easy”, said City’s director of football. “We’re ready to try and improve in this competition and grow”.
“The weather sometimes doesn’t help, but we have to be ready”.
Reuters Andrew Yates
European dream Pellegrini will be hopeful of progress
However last week’s 4-2 win against Borussia Monchengladbach coupled with Juventus’ shock 1-0 defeat at Sevilla ensured the Citizens progressed as group winners for the first time.
The controversial Italian striker was then sent off in the return at the Etihad for a karate kick on Goran Popov.
Last season City fans – many of who had already bought visas and booked hotels and flights – were hit by a similar Uefa stadium closure at CSKA Moscow.
“It’s going to be tough”. They will want to show people theyre strong, that they are fighting for something.
“We know how to build form and prepare for such games“.
“We are getting experience, which is important”.