Manchester City had long since been knocked out of the Champions League by the time the decision was taken to sack Roberto Mancini in the spring of 2013. European football was not the Italian’s speciality. However, as Manuel Pellegrini looks for a result to save his team’s season, other similarities between the reign of City’s current coach and the final, faltering weeks of his predecessor’s are strikingly relevant. Certainly the two men are different. Pellegrini is placid, Mancini explosive. Pellegrini is considered by some at City to be rather too nice while Mancini made enemies at every level. But, although Pellegrini may beg to differ, the warnings for the Chilean are to be found using football’s most fundamental barometer: results. Manuel Pellegrini is fighting to save his Manchester City job and needs a good result in Barcelona . Manchester City are looking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in the Nou Camp . Mancini’s final year at City saw a Barclays Premier League title win, a summer of faltering efforts in the transfer market and a subsequent championship defence in which his team’s levels dropped to the extent that they ended the 2012-13 season some way short of a rival — Manchester United — who did not have to be imperious to beat them into second. Sound familiar? Two years on and again City have failed to build on success. They have bought modestly, played well only sporadically and look destined to trail another less-than-convincing rival — this time it’s Chelsea — by some distance by the time they reach the finishing post. Did United win the title two years ago or did City simply fail to defend it properly? Perhaps a bit of both. Can we say the same again this time round? Almost certainly. Talk to people at City and they will stress that Mancini was not sacked because he failed to win a second league title. He was dismissed because City had failed to move forwards in Europe and because his style of management was, they feared, about to rip holes in the fabric of the club. Nevertheless, the similarities between what should have been Mancini’s consolidation season and this one are clear and that is why Pellegrini has every reason to feel anxious ahead of a mammoth task at the Nou Camp. On Tuesday at City’s hotel by the port, Pellegrini was in denial mode once again. ‘I don’t think my seat is in danger,’ he said. Manchester City's Premier League title challenge suffered a further blow with defeat at Burnley . Pellegrini finds himself in a similar position to Roberto Mancini before the Italian was sacked . Mancini left City after a failed Premier League title defence and another dismal season in Europe . Nevertheless, in the first leg of this tie at the Etihad Stadium three weeks ago we saw far too much of what is wrong with the modern City and not enough of what is right. Haphazard at the back, weak in midfield and mentally suspect by their own admission, Pellegrini’s team were overrun for 45 minutes. Only their own spirit, the excellence of Sergio Aguero and a rare moment of fallibility from Lionel Messi at the death kept City in touch. As such, if they are to overcome a 2-1 deficit they simply must show us something we have not yet seen from them at this level, under either manager. Those who point to wins at home against Bayern Munich and away at Roma as evidence that City are learning are clutching desperately at straws. VIDEO Pellegrini doesn't fear for City job . Yaya Toure and Pellegrini speak from their hotel in Barcelona on the eve of the second leg . Toure knows his team must improve if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals . Joe Hart's penalty save from Lionel Messi at the end of the first leg has given City a glimmer of hope . City were on the ropes for much of both games. Certainly they controlled neither and were aided by some good fortune. On Wednesday it must be different, something the returning Yaya Toure seemed to agree with when he spoke on Tuesday. ‘Last year everybody said we were a top team in Europe,’ said the Ivorian. ‘Now we have lost a couple of games and everybody says we are the worst. We can deal with that. The players know what they have to do.’ During their own media gathering earlier in the day, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and midfielder Andres Iniesta spoke diplomatically. City remain a feared opponent, was the message. The truth, however, is that City have not remotely troubled the Catalan club in successive Champions League meetings, and given that Barcelona have won 16 of their last 17 games and are yet to be shut out in Europe this season, the size of the English club’s task is clear. Barcelona train at their Joan Gamper base on the eve of the second leg against Manchester City . Luis Suarez scored both Barcelona goals in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium . There was one item of good news for City on Tuesday when Enrique confirmed that his central midfield totem, Sergio Busquets, will not play. The great Spaniard is injured and that may offer the likes of Toure and David Silva some hope as they look to attack Barcelona’s back four. Nevertheless, Pellegrini must hope for a considerable improvement. City simply must find it from somewhere. There is absolutely no desire at City to sack Pellegrini. What would that say about the judgment of those who hired him? Like every manager, however, he will live or die by his results. Currently his win ratio at City is 62 per cent. Mancini’s was 59 per cent. This is game number 99 of Pellegrini’s reign. By the time he reaches his century at home to West Bromwich on Saturday, he will hope to have something significant to reflect upon.
Manchester City face Barcelona at Nou Camp in second leg of last 16 tie . Catalan giants hold 2-1 lead after victory at the Etihad Stadium . Manuel Pellegrini needs a result to save City's season . Yaya Toure knows team must improve after 1-0 defeat by Burnley . CLICK HERE for Barcelona vs Man City team news .