Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates his goal against Villarreal during the club's Champions League Group A match in Manchester, northern England, on Tuesday. City won, 2-1, thanks to Aguero's goal in the final minute of added time. "This is important for the Champions League," said City manager Robert Mancini. Phil Noble / Reuters

Off to slow Champions start, club is vying for group lead after last-ditch goal

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom - Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, believes his team can still win its Champions League group after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Villarreal at the Etihad Stadium saw the Premier League leader record its first win in the competition.

City needed a winning goal from substitute Sergio Aguero, in the last of three minutes of added time, to clinch victory and keep alive its hope of competing with group leader Bayern Munich and second-place Napoli for the top two positions in Group A.

"First place is open in the group," said Mancini.

"I hope this win will be very important. It was important to win the first game in the Champions League and I think anything can happen in this group in terms of first place.

"We go to Villarreal in 15 days and it will be very important because they are a good team and play football very well but, absolutely, the game in Naples will be most important.

"Before this, we will play the game in Villarreal but the game in Naples will be the crucial game - I don't know for which position, because at the moment Bayern Munich have seven points, Napoli five, us four, it is open for first and second place."

Qualification was far from City's thoughts as it trailed after an early goal from Cani. But an own goal from Carlos Machena brought City level before the interval and set up the thrilling finale.

However, after poor showings in its first two games against Napoli and Bayern, the performance again raised the question of whether City can be as effective in Europe as it has been domestically.

"I don't know this," said Mancini.

"Playing in the Premier League takes a lot of strength and energy and, after three days, to play in Champions League is very hard.

"Last year we wanted this, to play in the Champions League and improve as a team. Every team that has played in Champions League for years doesn't have this problem, but the first year is hard. But we want to do it and stay on this center stage."

Mancini was forced into a tactical reshuffle with 39 minutes gone when he hauled off England winger Adam Johnson in favor of Gareth Barry although the City manager insisted there was no problem with the former's performance despite his disgruntled reaction to being replaced.

"We were conceding four or five counter-attacks and didn't have many players in the middle," he explained.

"Adam played very well but at that moment it was a tactical substitution.

"I spoke with him and he understood. Sometimes every manager decides the team needs a tactical sub, and unfortunately players have to leave the pitch and will be disappointed. But Adam is a very important player for us."

After easily beating Aston Villa on Saturday, allowing City to move to first place in the Premier League, Mancini's team now visits defending champion Manchester United on Sunday in high spirits.

"This is important for the Champions League," said Mancini.

"For the derby, it wasn't important. That will be a different game, another situation. But it's good for our confidence and important to go there and do well because it will be very hard."

Villarreal players appeared incensed after conceding the equalizer and, on the final whistle, surrounded match officials.

Coach Juan Carlos Garrido said there was nothing wrong with Aguero's effort and his players had been wrong to react in that manner.

"We played a good match and while we didn't deserve to win, we deserved 1-1," he said.

"The players on the field thought it was offside, but it wasn't. In the last minute, with all the emotion, it is difficult to stay calm, and our players thought it was unfair. But we accept it, we must accept it."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 10/20/2011 page22)