This time last season, Roberto Mancini was trying to chart a way for Manchester City past the group of death in the Champions League.
Fast forward a year, and it doesn't get any easier for the Italian, who has just been named manager of Turkish side Galatasaray.
After seeing his new side thrashed by Real Madrid on Matchday One, Mancini, who replaced Fatih Terim, has to somehow find a way to get some kind of positive result against Italian champions Juventus in Turin, or face the prospect of getting knocked out from the group stages yet again.
"It's going to be strange for me -- I only met the team for the first time yesterday (Monday)," Mancini said. "It's not like I have a magic wand. I hope the team, who looked great when I met them, can play a great game as we're up against a great Juve and it's going to be very difficult. We can only win with hard work.
"I'm lucky we have a break after our next fixture so I'll have time to get to know the team. Galatasaray have a great side and can always improve. As for the tactics, not even I know yet how we'll play. We'll see tomorrow (Wednesday).
Mancini, who put ink to paper on a three-year deal, paid tribute to Terim, who was extremely popular with the Galatasaray fans.
"It's normal that Fatih Terim is loved by the fans -- he is one of the biggest Turkish coaches and one of the biggest in Europe, but these things happen in football," Mancini added. "I was called by Galatasaray and I'm delighted. I want to carry on Terim's good work.
"The first game was hard, but I think many sides can lose to Real Madrid. We have five games and tomorrow is the first, very difficult one. Our aim is to go through. We have to put Madrid behind us and think about the games from tomorrow onwards."
Juventus also need a win after playing out an extremely disappointing 1-1 draw with perceived whipping boys FC Copenhagen.
Antonio Conte will know a slip up against Galatasaray in Turin, and a path to the last-16 could become extremely difficult. So, he will expect his side to put up a much better show on Wednesday.
"In Copenhagen, we were unable to make the most of our chances," Conte said. "We will put it down as an off-day; we were a bit sloppy and their goalkeeper did well. But it's best to have lots of chances and miss them rather than never having a shot, and that's our mantra.
"It's a pleasure to come up against Roberto Mancini. He's won in Italy and he's won abroad. I would have preferred not to have met him now because when a club changes coach, it's hard to work out how they will shape up.
"I rate him as one of the best coaches in Europe and it's only right that he's back in the game. I'm not sure how much he can influence tomorrow's game -- it remains a question mark."
Team News: Carlos Tevez, who will play against his former manager, is a doubt for Juventus with Conte insisting he will not take a risk with the Argentine. Mirko Vucinic, though, returns from a knee problem.
Hamit Altintop and Eray Iscan are ruled out for Galatasaray, while Wesley Sneijder is a doubt after coming off in the weekend's game.
Key Men: Juventus: if Carlos Tevez does not play, then the onus will be on Paul Pogba, the matchwinner in the Turin Derby at the weekend, to take the bull by the horns and drive his side to a victory.
Galatasaray: Didier Drogba will be keen to make an instant impression under Mancini, while Burak Yilmaz will want to find those scoring boots which were so in use in the Champions League last season.
Where to watch
The match is scheduled for a 12.15 a.m. (IST, Thursday) start with no live telecast scheduled.
Expected lineups: Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah; Llorente, Giovinco.
Galatasaray: Iscan; Eboue, Kaya, Chedjou, Balta; Emre, Baytar, Melo, Amrabat; Yilmaz, Drogba.
Prediction: 2-1 to Juventus
