No longer is Manchester City’s relationship with Bayern Munich one of hoping for a degree of vicarious pleasure from the Bavarian club’s brushes with the team from Old Trafford.Four days after United’s famous Champions League final win over Bayern in 1999, City had a final of their own, beating Gillingham on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley to secure their place back in the second tier of English football.
Twelve years on, they head to the Allianz Arena for the first time with only goal difference keeping them off the top of the Premier League.
If City have had a superb start to the season, Bayern, top of the Bundesliga with nine straight victories, including an impressive 2-0 win at Villarreal in their Champions League opener, and no goals conceded in nearly 14 hours of football, are not doing too badly either.
Despite speaking of his team’s nervousness after the 1-1 draw with Napoli, Roberto Mancini confidently promised a win in Germany.
And it appears that having overcome the most dogged of Everton defences, City’s players are certain that they can outstrip the likes of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer on their own patch.
“Against Bayern we will try to keep the ball, play with the same style and get a positive result,” said David Silva, who was man-marked for the first time in his career by Jack Rodwell at the weekend.
“We believe in what we are doing and have confidence in each other so we will keep doing the same things.”
James Milner, whose goal put City ahead, is hoping for his first appearance in Europe’s elite competition and feels City are set up perfectly to prosper in the Champions League.
“We know it will be tough,” Milner said. “Bayern seem to be playing with confidence but we can beat anyone on our day. We just need to have the confidence to do what we have been doing and get a good result.
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