Manchester City must put a potentially ruinous fortnight behind them as they seek to reboot their faltering season with a big performance in their Champions League last-16, first leg trip to Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday.
Manchester City must believe they can win the Champions League or face coming unstuck at Dynamo Kiev, says England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Joe Hart wants Manchester City to tackle Dynamo Kiev with the belief they are potential Champions League winners.
City travel to the Ukrainian capital for the round-of-16 first leg on Wednesday as favourites to progress, a marked departure from expectations of a swift exit after being pitted against Barcelona in each of the past two seasons.
"We've got to believe that we've got what it takes. You know, it's the best of the best, and if you're not at your best you will lose, simple as that, in this competition. So it's all about peaking for the game and being in the right place at the right time.
"The majority of the time when it comes to the Champions League we're still fighting on all fronts, and this is a good time to be a Manchester City player and a good time to be fighting."
Hart's opposite number is likely to be Dynamo's veteran captain Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, who was part of the team when his club reached the semi-finals in 1999.
Now 41, he told UEFA.com: "In the round of 16 we are up against a strong side in Manchester City – a team of world stars.
"But they have their own difficulties and problems, and they have their own approach to the game. My feeling is that we can stand up to City and advance further."
Pellegrini's concerns centre around fixture congestion for a stretched squad – Kevin De Bruyne (knee), Fabian Delph (Achilles), Samir Nasri (thigh), Eliaquim Mangala and Jesus Navas (both hamstring) will all miss out, while Bacary Sagna (knee) and Wilfried Bony (calf) are unlikely to start.
The reverse is true for Kiev boss Serhiy Rebrov.
Dynamo's 1-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on December 9, which sealed progression to the last-16 for the first time since 1999-00, was their most recent competitive match.
They have since won seven, drawn three and lost three of 13 friendly matches in the interim period, while new signings Oleksandr Yakovenko and Nikita Korzun join goalkeeper Artur Rudko – back from a loan spell at Goverla Uzhgorod – as additions to Rebrov's European squad. Artem Kravets, Younes Belhanda and Niko Kranjcar make way.
"It depends how you want to look at it, they're either well rested or they could be rusty, with the format of their league season," said Hart, who played in both legs when City suffered a 2-1 aggregate Europa League defeat to Dynamo in March 2011.
"But that will be decided after the game. We expect a strong challenge."
Manchester City must believe they can win the Champions League or face coming unstuck at Dynamo Kiev, says England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Joe Hart wants Manchester City to tackle Dynamo Kiev with the belief they are potential Champions League winners.
City travel to the Ukrainian capital for the round-of-16 first leg on Wednesday as favourites to progress, a marked departure from expectations of a swift exit after being pitted against Barcelona in each of the past two seasons.
"We've got to believe that we've got what it takes. You know, it's the best of the best, and if you're not at your best you will lose, simple as that, in this competition. So it's all about peaking for the game and being in the right place at the right time.
"The majority of the time when it comes to the Champions League we're still fighting on all fronts, and this is a good time to be a Manchester City player and a good time to be fighting."
Hart's opposite number is likely to be Dynamo's veteran captain Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, who was part of the team when his club reached the semi-finals in 1999.
Now 41, he told UEFA.com: "In the round of 16 we are up against a strong side in Manchester City – a team of world stars.
"But they have their own difficulties and problems, and they have their own approach to the game. My feeling is that we can stand up to City and advance further."
Pellegrini's concerns centre around fixture congestion for a stretched squad – Kevin De Bruyne (knee), Fabian Delph (Achilles), Samir Nasri (thigh), Eliaquim Mangala and Jesus Navas (both hamstring) will all miss out, while Bacary Sagna (knee) and Wilfried Bony (calf) are unlikely to start.
The reverse is true for Kiev boss Serhiy Rebrov.
Dynamo's 1-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on December 9, which sealed progression to the last-16 for the first time since 1999-00, was their most recent competitive match.
They have since won seven, drawn three and lost three of 13 friendly matches in the interim period, while new signings Oleksandr Yakovenko and Nikita Korzun join goalkeeper Artur Rudko – back from a loan spell at Goverla Uzhgorod – as additions to Rebrov's European squad. Artem Kravets, Younes Belhanda and Niko Kranjcar make way.
"It depends how you want to look at it, they're either well rested or they could be rusty, with the format of their league season," said Hart, who played in both legs when City suffered a 2-1 aggregate Europa League defeat to Dynamo in March 2011.
"But that will be decided after the game. We expect a strong challenge."
