Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini called Juventus “the strongest team of the group” and explains Sergio Aguero’s recovery.
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“It’s the first game of the group, it’s important to try to qualify from the group the same way we did the last two seasons,” Pellegrini told BT Sport Europe.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini called Juventus “the strongest team of the group” and explains Sergio Aguero’s recovery.
Follow the build-up and action on our LIVEBLOG.
“It’s the first game of the group, it’s important to try to qualify from the group the same way we did the last two seasons,” Pellegrini told BT Sport Europe.
“It’s important now to start with a good game here at home against the strongest team of the group.”
Aguero is on the bench, a surprise considering he had by all accounts been ruled out by a knee injury at the weekend.
“Sergio is not 100 per cent fit, he had a very good recovery, unexpected from yesterday afternoon and this morning, so he will be on the bench and we’ll see what happens in the game.
“It’s important for the team to see that if we need him, he can play.”
Juventus have had their worst ever start to a Serie A season with one point from three rounds, but Pellegrini is not swayed.
“I think we must expect from Juventus what they had in the other seasons. They won the Serie A title four years in a row and had a very good game against Barcelona in the Final of the Champions League.
“They are a strong team with players who know how to play, with two strikers, so we need to work very hard today if we want to keep the points here at home.”