If you ask Jose Mourinho, Manchester City had virtually zero chance of getting past the group stage of the Champions League with two matches to play.
The "Special One" made it clear at the pre-match press conference that even a loss at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday would just delay the inevitable for his counterpart Roberto Mancini. A maximum of six points was left to be won for City, and it's hard to argue with Mourinho's logic. Even if City managed a clean sweep and finished off with eight points, the prospect of Dortmund and Madrid failing to earn one and two points respectively were a long shot at best.
And so it came to pass.
Wednesday's match marked Mourinho's 100th in the Champions League, a tremendous achievement by the 49-year-old manager. The special occasion ended on a positive note, with Madrid clinching a spot in the next round after playing out a 1-1 draw that also eliminated City.
To read the rest of my analysis on Manchester City v Real Madrid, click on the link below....
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/champions_league/2012/11/21/uefa_champions_league_michalakos/
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