Manuel Pellegrini has defended his decision to play two strikers in Manchester City's Champions League first-leg defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday evening.
City appeared to be overrun in the first half as former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez scored twice to give the Spanish giants a 2-0 lead at the Etihad Stadium.
The hosts pulled one back through Sergio Aguero in an improved second-half performance which Pellegrini insists justifies his attacking approach, and the Citizens boss only regrets that they did not start in the same manner.
Pellegrini is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying: "I'm very happy with the way we played. It was the way we must play against Barcelona, we demonstrated that in the second half with the same names.
"Barcelona will always dominate some parts of the game, but with the same players in the second half and losing 2-0 in the second half it was difficult. I think we showed it was the way we must play from the first minute.
"In the second we did what we talked about before the game, we played well. It's not easy to play against Barcelona. We are going to play at Barcelona and try to do it the way we normally do in Europe. We have a chance."
Joe Hart saved a late Lionel Messi penalty to keep City's deficit at 2-1 heading to Camp Nou next month.
Joe Fish
