Fernandinho doesn't want Man City to suffer in silence

The absence of a partisan Muscovite crowd might sound ideal for a Champions League tie which they cannot afford to lose, but no one is pretending that raising their spirit and their game to face CSKA will be easy behind closed doors.

Fernandinho, the City midfielder who has been one of the most important players in this so far unconvincing European campaign, reflected before stepping out into the cold and drizzle of a near freezing night that his two previous experiences of playing in an empty stadium had been challenging.

One was while in Brazil; the other for Shakhtar Donetsk in a 2005 Champions League qualifying tie against an Inter Milan side who were punished for their fans' misdemeanours in the previous season's quarter-final. "You have to keep your concentration on the pitch and try to win the game," he said.

Support

"I don't think it will be an advantage for us. It is always good when you play away because the (home) fans support their team and it gives you more motivation to play well. I don't think (a closed stadium) is good for either team or for football."

It wasn't for his Shakhtar side. They drew 1-1 at San Siro nine years ago and were eliminated.

The perennial anxiety that can beset City fans at a pivotal moment like this has led to much talk of CSKA - who are denied fans home and away throughout the campaign because of their supporters' persistent racist conduct - being handed a competitive advantage, tonight. CSKA know the territory, having also played behind closed doors against Bayern Munich last month, the argument runs.

"The (Bayern) game looked like a training session," said Fernandinho, who will be spared some of the extreme workload he has faced in the previous two games if his compatriot Fernando makes his first European start for City tonight.

"Bayern just did a very professional job and I think that is the way we must approach the game."

Thomas Müller's penalty secured the Germans the points from a 1-0 win.

There was barely a shout through the mist from the Premier League champions and no high jinks as the club's coaching staff looked on, clearly concerned by such an alien environment.

In such sterile circumstances, the Russian champions' Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa has done City manager Manuel Pellegrini a favour by publicly declaring that the English team's defence is rubbish.

"You can see they are very weak this year so we are going to try and use that advantage against them," Musa said. "They are very weak in the defence so we're going to work against that. We know our weaker points so we're going to try and do our best."

Rarely does a player at elite level offer the opposition such an incentive to prove him wrong, though Pablo Zabaleta offered a cool, early rebuttal. "We like to play as an attacking team, but we sometimes leave space at the back," the Argentinian said. "It would be great to leave players at the back, but we like to push high and that leaves space in behind. It is the way we like to play and we are not going to change this."

A City defence anchored by Vincent Kompany have actually kept only two clean sheets in the Premier League and Champions League this season, though it is the ease with which sides have strolled through their midfield, exposing the back line, which has been the problem.

Fernando was bought by City to provide the midfield steel that was lacking in the two Group E games so far which have brought City a solitary point. His performance in Saturday's 4-1 win over Tottenham was distinctly unimpressive. Tonight, he could potentially solve the structural problem caused by Yaya Toure's upfield forays, which have left Fernandinho, the holding partner, with two men's work to undertake.

Pellegrini reasserted last night that he sees Toure as a midfielder, rather than the second striker which the presence of the two Brazilian-born midfielders would allow.

Important

"He plays forward with his national squad, but he is an important midfielder for us and that is where he will continue to play," the manager said. But none of his observations excluded the chance of Toure playing further forward, ahead of a two-man holding line. Toure certainly looks like a player in need of a new environment within the team.

"I don't agree that Yaya has had a bad season," Pellegrini added. "Maybe he just needs time to get back to (last season's) level. He had a very complicated summer."

Pellegrini, who may also give Eliaquim Mangala his first Champions League game for City, has one prior experience of managing behind closed doors, too. Never the willing purveyor of a story or anecdote, he said he had forgotten where it was. The talking stops now, in any case. The margins for error have been sacrificed by this stuttering City team.

It would be hard to see where qualification from the group can come from if they lose tonight. The spirit of survival must sustain them, on a night when supporters cannot. (© Independent News Service)

CSKA Moscow v Manchester City - the key battles

Ahmed Musa v  Vincent Kompany

Nigeria forward Musa has lit the touchpaper ahead of the match by labelling City's defence as "weak" and claiming he is confident of victory. He is in good form, with six goals to his name this season, but City's dependable captain Kompany will be out to prove criticism of his defence is misplaced.

Zoran Tosic v Aleksandar Kolarov

Former Manchester United player Tosic made his mark on City last season with a fine goal when the sides met at the Khimki Arena. He is a tricky customer coming inside from wide positions. Kolarov will have to keep an eye on him but will also want to make his own incursions going forward as City seek goals.

Aleksei Berezutski v Yaya Toure

Versatile defender Aleksei Berezutski could play in the back line or be pushed forward as a holding midfielder. Either way, he is likely to come up against Toure, who will look to dictate play on a ground where he suffered racial abuse last season. Toure has not been at his devastating best this season but scored a fine goal at Aston Villa recently and was rested at the weekend in readiness.

Vasili Berezutski v Sergio Aguero

Containing Aguero is a task that could trouble the best, given the Argentinian's current form. Vasili Berezutski, twin brother of Aleksei, and Sergei Ignashevich are experienced options CSKA can use. Aguero, fully fit after a series of problems in the first half of 2014, has scored 10 in all competitions this season.

CSKA Moscow v Manchester City, live 5.00pm, Sky Sports 5