Manuel Pellegrini has challenged Manchester City ’ s players to prove they are one of the best teams in Europe as they attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Barcelona . The City manager , under scrutiny after their surrender in the first leg and Saturday ’ s 1-0 defeat at Burnley in the Barclays Premier League , is convinced they can still qualify for the Champions League quarter-final . Pellegrini said : ‘ This is a good opportunity for our team and the only way to prove it is to beat one of the biggest teams in Europe and we have that chance . Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini looks relaxed during his press conference on Tuesday . Pellegrini was joined by City midfielder Yaya Toure ahead of their pivotal match against Barcelona . Toure , sporting flip flops , and Pellegrini answered questions ahead of their Champions League tie . Pellegrini has been under scrutiny after their surrender in the first leg and Saturday ’ s 1-0 defeat at Burnley . ‘ We will try to do our best with dedication and hard work . We are not going to play against an easy team but I ’ m sure that if the three previous ties with Barcelona were 11 v 11 it could have been different . ‘ We are going to have bad moments during the game but we have a team that can do its best in that type of game. ’ Yaya Toure , returning from suspension , added : ‘ We all know what we have to do , the owners have spent a lot of money to make this one of the top clubs in Europe . We have had some difficulties but we are working hard . ‘ It ’ s not the first time we have been in this situation . We ’ ll try to do it for the fans and the club and the people who continue to help us. ’ City manager Pellegrini oversees a training session on Tuesday ahead of travelling to Barcelona . Pellegrini needs to go on the attack against an impressive Barcelona team at the Nou Camp on Wednesday . Pellegrini 's men lost 2-1 at the Etihad in the first leg after a Luis Suarez double on his return to England . Toure ( right ) feels City must be wary of trying to 'run after the score ' against Barcelona on Wednesday . The City players are put through their paces on Tuesday before boarding their flight to Barcelona .
Barcelona beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad in the first leg . Manuel Pellegrini has called for his players to prove their worth . 'This is a good opportunity for our team and the only way to prove it is to beat 1 of the biggest teams in Europe and we have that chance , ' he says .