Scholes backs Man City to beat Barcelona - and even praises Pellegrini!
Paul Scholes believes Manchester City have the edge over Barcelona in the sides' Champions League last-16 tie.
And the United legend has praised Manuel Pellegrini for overseeing a successful week that saw the Blues pick up their sixth and seventh wins on the bounce.
City are set to go head-to-head with Barca at the first knockout stage for the second consecutive year after the teams were paired together in Monday's draw.
Pellegrini's men were knocked out over two legs last season, but Scholes thinks the tables have turned on the evidence of the Blues' 2-0 win over Roma last week.
"I am tipping Manchester City to eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League over two legs," he wrote in his column for the Independent.
"Of course, much depends on form and injuries at the end of February, but I think the approach used by Manuel Pellegrini against Roma worked well.
"It will mean he starts with a midfield core of Fernando, Fernandinho and James Milner and then picks players around that to make it work."
Scholes also picked out Pellegrini as his 'manager of the week', writing: "Winning away in Europe and then away in the league within four days is one of the hardest tricks to pull off."
Paul Scholes believes Manchester City have the edge over Barcelona in the sides' Champions League last-16 tie.
And the United legend has praised Manuel Pellegrini for overseeing a successful week that saw the Blues pick up their sixth and seventh wins on the bounce.
City are set to go head-to-head with Barca at the first knockout stage for the second consecutive year after the teams were paired together in Monday's draw.
Pellegrini's men were knocked out over two legs last season, but Scholes thinks the tables have turned on the evidence of the Blues' 2-0 win over Roma last week.
"I am tipping Manchester City to eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League over two legs," he wrote in his column for the Independent.
"Of course, much depends on form and injuries at the end of February, but I think the approach used by Manuel Pellegrini against Roma worked well.
"It will mean he starts with a midfield core of Fernando, Fernandinho and James Milner and then picks players around that to make it work."
Scholes also picked out Pellegrini as his 'manager of the week', writing: "Winning away in Europe and then away in the league within four days is one of the hardest tricks to pull off."
