Injuries to "big players" Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi becalmed the Manchester City dressing room, says Pablo Zabaleta.
Pablo Zabaleta conceded Manchester City's celebrations over reaching the Champions League quarterfinals were subdued after center backs Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi suffered first-half injuries in the 0-0 draw against Dynamo Kiev.
City was grateful for the 3-1 lead it carried over from the first leg of the last-16 clash in Kiev after influential captain Kompany suffered a recurrence of his troublesome calf injury in the seventh minute.
Otamendi suffered a dead leg in a challenge with Oleg Gusev to depart after 24 minutes of a listless first half, with Kiev unable to sufficiently test City's hastily thrown together defensive duo of Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis.