Manchester City’s recent league form has resembled the club’s constant struggles in Europe – lots of meaningless possession punctuated by defensive errors and eventual capitulation. Now Manuel Pellegrini faces Barcelona for the fourth time in thirteen months with his job potentially hanging in the balance.

Pellegrini’s previous matches against better opposition, especially away from home, have indicated a certain degree of utopian tactical hope. Conceding the midfield but placing an extra striker in the attack is tantamount to madness in modern football with the evolution of holding midfield play and the positive possession traits of top clubs. But the Chilean manager has consistently tried to use the Blues advantage of a deep frontline (at least on paper) to stimulate goal scoring opportunities. The result has been struggles.

Manchester City has never beaten an elite European side in the Champions League unless it was a meaningless game for the opposition. Against this backdrop, Pellegrini must do the impossible – win a match for the club where not one single point of data over the past four seasons indicates the Blues would win, and check his stubbornness about tactics at the door.

What alternatives does Pellegrini have with his current Blues personnel? One option would be place James Milner as a roving side-to-side midfielder giving additional cover whenever the play is unbalanced. This would require Pellegrini to drop Samir Nasri, something that probably should be an automatic. It would also be wise if Edin Dzeko was dropped and replaced by an additional midfielder and if Bacary Sagna played right back over Pablo Zabaleta who is having his worst season in sometime.

Here is how this City side would setup

Another alternative would be for Manchester City to play with an additional wide threat deploying Jesus Navas on the right side of midfield, moving Milner to the left and keeping Zabaleta at right back. This would also require the dropping of a central midfielder and leave the Blues more vulnerable in the center of the pitch. However, City might be able to counterattack effectively in this formation.

Yet another option would be use Wilfried Bony as a bruising target forward to hold up possession and to drop Aguero. This idea would require diagonal runs from midfield and may require the reinsertion of Nasri into the team. David Silva would be moved left and Milner would either be sent to the bench or play as a shield alongside Yaya Toure.

The final creative option for Pellegrini would be to put Alexsander Kolarov, who is an excellent crosser of the ball and set piece striker, to play left back while keeping Milner in the team on the right and dropping Nasri. This would an opportunity for City to play “smash and grab” and attempt to win the game off set pieces. Manchester City have converted the lowest percentage of corners this season into goals according to Premier League statistics. Kolarov’s potential insertion sacrifices pace and defensive prowess but might give the Blues the set piece service required to pull an improbable upset off.

All of these options are at least on paper viable. But Pellegrini has shown a reluctance to truly experiment with his side or take chances on a new formation or tactical setup. But with the manager’s tenure destined to end if the Blues do not get the right result Wednesday at the Camp Nou, the time might be now to consider one of the ideas presented above.