Kompany sounds rallying call

MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany is urging fans to believe in the team ahead of his side’s crunch Champions League clash in Barcelona tonight.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini opted out of pre–match media duties at the Nou Camp as he prepared to begin a two–game touchline ban.

That left Kompany to sound the rallying call on the eve of the game as City bid to overturn a 2–0 deficit to claim a place in the quarter–finals.

Kompany said: “It is in our hands. We are going out on the pitch and have to do the job. The message to everyone is we have to believe — not just for ourselves but we have probably more than 5,000 fans coming here hoping something might happen, of witnessing something special.”

Pellegrini will have to take a back seat as he pays the price for an outspoken attack on the referee after the first leg at the Etihad Stadium. He will be allowed only to watch from the stands and can’t contact players.