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The typical statement of intent was sent out with sugar, spice and everything nice, as a ruthless Manchester City side emphasized their title credentials with an earth-shaking win at White Hart Lane. The result said it all: Tottenham 1-5 Manchester City.
It was Talksport’s controversial and outspoken broadcast journalist Adrian Durham who, to much derision, suggested that Roberto Mancini’s current Manchester City are “the British equivalent of Barcelona”.
Yes, that is the current European and Spanish champions who are also regarded as one of the (if not the) finest teams in the history of world football.
Admittedly City have done little to be considered amongst football’s elite teams historically, although the feeling in Eastlands is that something special is brewing within Mancini’s camp.
Last season a cautious and wary Manchester City side went to White Hart Lane and limped their way towards a 0-0 draw after being thoroughly outplayed and overrun by their opponents Spurs.
Their Italian coach found himself at the summit of the Premier League sack race and Edin Dzeko was just ‘that big Bosnian striker who scored lots of goals for VfL Wolfsburg’. As for Sergio Aguero, well the Argentine perhaps did not even know Manchester City FC even existed as he celebrated Super Cup success with Atletico Madrid!
Likewise, to have mentioned Manchester United’s so-called ‘noisy neighbours’ in the same breath as Pep Guardiola’s team of 10 masters plus Messi, or to have talked about them as serious title contenders would have been the butt of all pub jokes. Manchester City as good as Barcelona? Manchester City to win the Premier League; really???!!!
Fast forward one year and the transformation could not be more stark. Not since Michael Jackson decided to undergo plastic surgery could one have witnessed a more eye-opening, if not jaw-dropping change of character and demeanour.
The sheer brilliance and immense quality encapsulating the FA Cup holders during their 5-1 demolition of Tottenham at White Hart Lane was breathtaking.
The 5 goals, the movement building up to the goals, the creativity on show, the skill levels, the championship-like conviction, the ruthlessness, the belief within the team, their power, their strength-in-depth, as well as the fact that they harbour a manager who truly knows how to win makes ‘Citeh’ a potentially formidable side.
Dzeko himself looks every bit the player who the club shelled millions for, whilst in Samir Nasri and David Silva, the team have two of the League’s most creative, flair midfielders.
A hat-trick of assists for Nasri coupled with another awesome display from David Silva is testament to this – all achieved minus the services of Adam Johnson, James Milner, Mario Balotelli (he is very good on his day) and a certain Carlos Tevez.
As good as Barcelona? Well, Adrian Durham certainly believes so and actually prayed that Roberto Mancini’s men drew the Catalans in the UEFA Champions League group stages as the doubters ridiculed his aforementioned suggestion.
As it were, they drew a resurgent Bayern Munich, a solid Villarreal team and an exciting and dynamic Napoli side bristling with confidence.
Progression will be tough, but believe In The Stands when we tell you that nobody on the continent will relish going-toe-to-toe with City; and that includes Barcelona whose only obstacles to bagging a fifth European Cup are Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side, a revenge-seeking Manchester United, and…wait for it, Manchester City!
As for a first Premier League crown in some 40 plus years? Don’t worry, they will win that. Manchester City for the League? You heard it here first!
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