Sergio Aguero: I want to be Manchester City's Diego Maradona

Sergio Aguero is intent on walking in the divine footsteps of his father-in-law in Naples tonight - by lighting up the Stadio San Paolo.

The little Argentine striker says he dreams of becoming a national hero and football icon like his wife Giannina’s dad Diego Maradona, who is revered in Naples.

Aguero is hoping to fire the Blues into the knockout phase by scoring the goals which will ensure second place in Group A.

Maradona will not be there to watch his son-in-law play, as he was back in Argentina for the funeral of his mother yesterday.

But Aguero says he dreams of leading City to glory the way Maradona led the unfashionable Napoli club to success over the richer clubs of the Italian north.

“It’s my dream to do what Maradona did for Napoli, but for City,” said Aguero.

“But this is not about an individual – what is important is that Manchester City do well as a team.

“In the past Maradona has told me everything about Naples, and I have seen on television what he stands for here, and how important he is for the fans.

“It is also important for me, as an Argentinian.

“I haven’t been able to speak to him for the past few days because of the loss of his mother – but I want to send my best wishes to him and those close to him at the moment.”

Maradona is deified by the fans in Naples, even though he left under a cloud in 1992 after a drugs test proved positive for cocaine.

In fact, the Neapolitans wanted to rename their stadium after the genius who led them to two Serie A titles and a Uefa Cup from 1987 to 1990, only to be thwarted by an Italian law which forbids a building to be named after a person unless they have been dead for at least ten years!

And they are a passionate set of fans.

City arrived at the airport to be greeted by a group of fans chanting – and one set off a flare.

City have put on extra security for the trip, with 1,000 Blues fans expected in the port, after three Liverpool fans were stabbed there last season, and two Bayern Munich supporters got the same treatment three weeks ago.

Roberto Mancini was giving nothing away about his team selection, but admitted he is toying with the idea of starting with Mario Balotelli.

The Italian striker is desperate to play in this one, as Naples is one of his favourite cities, and he has enjoyed a rebirth as a national hero after two impressive displays for the national team last week.

But Napoli fans are likely to give Balotelli a hot reception as they are not big fans of the national team and remember him from his days as a player for the hated Inter Milan.

Mancini says that factor won’t alter his team selection.

“I don't think about the crowd reaction,” he said. “Mario has played in Naples maybe ten times.

“For him, every game for Manchester City is important, but now it is different because he plays for us for the first time in Italy in Naples.

“The fans in Italy know and understand that Mario can be an important player for the national team.

“Of course, we feel we can finish the job. But we are confident in any game, not just the Premier League but the Champions League as well. We have to go there, be confident and give it 100 per cent because it is not going to be an easy game.

"It is going to be a big task but we are confident."

 Napoli look as imposing as the stone fortress which guards the harbour in this ancient city. Their proud boast is that they have not lost to a foreign team since Eintracht Frankfurt won here in 1994.

"hat is a run of ten matches, including the group games against Bayern Munich and Villarreal this season. But they have lost twice at home this season in Serie A, to Chievo and Parma.

And City broke one duck by becoming he first English club ever to win at Villarreal in their last Champions League outing.

That was also the Blues’ first-ever competitive win on Spanish soil, and now they go seeking their first in Italy.

Midfielder Nigel de Jong, who is expected to be deployed in a deep-lying role to guard against the counter-attacks of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi which caught City out in the Etihad Stadium meeting of the two sides, believes City can do it.

“Of course, we feel we can finish the job,” said de Jong. “

But we are confident in any game, not just the Premier League but the Champions League as well.

“We have to go there, be confident and give it 100 per cent because it is not going to be an easy game. It is going to be a big task but we are confident.”

Deal me in! Nigel de Jong wants to pen new Manchester City deal

 

Nigel de Jong

Nigel de Jong has declared: “I want to stay at Manchester City and win more trophies”.

The Blues midfielder has been talking about a new deal with City for over six months without agreement, while Joe Hart, Adam Johnson, Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards have all signed new long-term deals.

Roberto Mancini is anxious to keep the Dutchman but de Jong wants a deal in line with City’s big earners.

Negotiations have dragged on, but City remain confident they can agree terms with the player. And de Jong, whose current deal runs out in the summer of 2013, made it plain that he doesn’t want to go anywhere.

“There is no concern about my contract,” de Jong said. “It is up to the club now. I have spoken my mind and now it is from the club’s perspective to decide what they want to do with me as a person and a player.

“Do I want to stay? Is that not obvious? It is a silly question.

“I have been here for three years and I am here to win prizes. We won the FA Cup last season, now we are doing well in the Premier League. For me there is no reason to move on.”

De Jong has also made it clear that regardless of any frustration at not getting a new deal sorted out, he will continue to give his all for the City cause.

The Blues have now chalked up the best 12-match start to a season in history, with 11 wins and a draw.

And they take that form into their crunch Champions League game at Napoli tomorrow night, knowing a win would secure a place in the last 16.

However, de Jong warned it will be tough in the Stadio San Paolo: “There is a good feeling about the squad but Napoli are fighting for the last chance.

“Everybody knows the stories about Napoli and their fans and it is going to be an exciting game.

“We feel we can finish the job. We have to go there, be confident and give it 100 per cent.”

 De Jong also said that going to Old Trafford and winning heavily had taken City’s confidence  onto a new level.

“After that game, the confidence did get higher,” added de Jong.

“Away games are always more difficult, especially there. But this is not going to be an easy task with their fans.”

Roberto Mancini: Manchester City must find more to beat Napoli

 

TASK-MASTER: Roberto Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has warned his players they will have to improve if they are to get anything out of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Naples - despite an impressive win over Newcastle.

City take on Napoli knowing they must win in order to seal a place in the knockout phase and avoid a nervous last-day encounter with Bayern Munich.

They warmed up with a decent 3-1 win over Newcastle, which ended the Magpies' unbeaten record and maintained their own advantage at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

However, despite a couple of penalties from Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero either side of a Micah Richards effort, Mancini still found room for more.

"I know what we can find more in Naples," said Mancini.

"Naples this season are playing very well at home. If we want to win in Naples, we should play better than we did this afternoon."


Still, City came out on top by adding another three goals to their impressive tally, with Balotelli and Aguero taking their seasonal tallies to eight and 11 respectively.

It is a measure of Mancini's new-found confidence in Balotelli that he allowed him to take City's first penalty, after Ryan Taylor had handled Yaya Toure's shot.

"With the penalties, Mario is fabulous," he said. "It is impossible that he misses. I don't know why. He shoots very well.

"Mario is a very important player for us. He is a great player and is getting better and better.

"I am trying to help him because I don't want him to waste his talent and to make sure he can become the player he can become.

"The rest is down to him and he is doing very well."

City are yet to drop a point on home soil this season and, despite Mancini's concerns, look well placed to come through a difficult week that concludes with a trip to Liverpool next Sunday.

For Newcastle it was a case of what might have been.

Demba Ba's shot was repelled by Joe Hart when the score was still goalless, then Hatem Ben Arfa - making his first Premier League start since breaking his leg in a tackle with Nigel de Jong during the corresponding fixture last season - fired against a post just as the visitors looked like they might be able to haul themselves back from two goals down.

Boss Alan Pardew said: "Manchester City are the best side we have played by some distance."

Micah Richards and Mario Balotelli earn Roberto Mancini praise

Mancini relieved to resume winning ways

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini praised Micah Richards after the full-back made a telling contribution to his team's 3-1 win over Newcastle United.

He scored one and was brought down for a penalty as City maintained their lead at the top of the Premier League.
The display comes after he was left out of the England squad for last week's friendly wins over Spain and Sweden.
"I love Micah Richards as a guy and a player," said Mancini. "I'd like it if he plays always like he did today."
Sergio Aguero scored from the spot after Richards was fouled by Hatem Ben Arfa, Mario Balotelli having opened the scoring with another penalty after Ryan Taylor had handled.
Mancini made special mention of his 21-year-old Italian striker, who also received praise from Italy coach Cesare Prandelli during the week.
"The penalty from Mario was fabulous," Mancini said. "It is impossible for him to miss one penalty - I don't know why.
"I'm just helping him not to waste his talent and to make sure he becomes the player he can become. The rest is down to him and he is doing very well."

Manchester City announce record-breaking losses of £194.9m

Manchester City have announced record annual losses of £194.9million.

The sizeable sum, the highest ever recorded in English football, shows the depth of the investment made by Sheikh Mansour to transform City from a lower-mid table outfit in 2008 to their present status as Premier League leaders.

Whilst accepting the scale of the losses, City officials are adamant it marks a low point in their financial graph and from this point forward, they will be embarking on a significant upward trend.

"Our losses, which we predicted as part of our accelerated investment strategy, will not be repeated on this scale in the future," said chief operating officer Graham Wallace.

Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak added: "With our best ever result in the Premier League, qualification for the UEFA Champions League, and an historic FA Cup campaign that delivered the Club its first piece of major silverware in 35 years, there is much to be proud of.

"However, we should not underestimate the club's other major achievements in terms of its continued commercial performance, groundbreaking partnership initiatives, expanding contribution to the community, and independent recognition for the quality of our facilities and match day offerings.

"From the perspective of the board and executive leadership team, these broader achievements are equally important signs of progress in the ongoing evolution of Manchester City and are particularly encouraging when combined with the club's historic performance on the pitch.

"It is important to recognise that much of the work covered in this report occurred under the stewardship of Garry Cook.

"I want to take this opportunity to formally thank him for his contribution to the extensive transformation of the organisation.

"Now that we are witnessing progress, both on and off the pitch, it is more important than ever to redouble our efforts towards achieving our ambition to establish Manchester City as a more successful, sustainable and internationally competitive football club that remains at the heart of the community in which it is based."

Figures

Thankfully for City, the figures will not be taken into account used as part of UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations as they fall outside the accounting window.

Indeed, as "additional exceptional charges" of £34.4million have been added to a net loss of £160.5million for the 2010-11 financial year, it could be argued the club have been quite astute in their planning.

It is also easy to see why the club are so strong in defending their present position as the mammoth sponsorship deal with Etihad Airlines, said to be worth £35million-a-year over the next decade, plus the riches on offer in this season's Champions League, will have begun to impact on City's accounts in 12 months' time.

The Blues are also pointing out that commercial revenue has risen 49.7% to £48.5million and TV rights, thanks to the club's third place Premier League finish, winning the FA Cup to end a 35-year trophy drought and a run to the last 16 of the Europa League, have increased 27.4% to £68.8million.

Overall turnover was £153.2million, breaking through the £150million barrier for the first time.

"The result is consistent with the guidance provided in the first MCFC annual report that losses would peak in the 2010-11 financial year, as a result of the accelerated investment programme that the club undertook between 2008 and 2011," said the club in a statement to accompany the results.

Although officials are aware of the likelihood of all the focus going on the eye-bulging headline figure, which has been covered by two tranches of new equity of £176.7million during 2010-11 and £114.2million in the post-year period, they are insistent the losses should be taken in context with the club's position as a whole.

Playing squad

In spending huge amounts on Roberto Mancini's playing squad, the Blues have been left with a number of players, including Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Wayne Bridge, who are of no real value to City now but still have to be paid, money which rolls into a seven-figure sum every month.

Only now do City believe they have got to the situation required for a leading club of having two men for each position.

And, given most of Mancini's players are young, vast recruitment drives such as those which have been seen so often over the past three years, will not be necessary.

There is a clear desire to develop in some areas, particularly in overseas markets where Manchester United have been so strong, but City have no plans to extend the newly-named Etihad Stadium currently.

However, over the road, it is hoped planning permission to start work on the vast 80 acre site that will be known as the Etihad Campus will be granted in December.

City have received a favourable response to their ambitious scheme, the like of which has never been seen before in England, from local residents, who are set to benefit from 85 permanent and 200 temporary jobs within the project as a whole.

It is this scheme which the club feel will prove Etihad's £350million investment worthwhile.

In fact, it is understood there is a feeling at City that the price tag may eventually be viewed as undervaluing the site rather than inflating it, as Arsene Wenger and Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre have suggested.

It will also be used as evidence of Sheikh Mansour's long-term commitment for City to become profitable should the club eventually fail to meet UEFA's FFP ruling that no club can incur losses in excess of 45million euros (£40million) over the three seasons of the first monitoring period, which begins in the 2011-12 campaign.

Manchester City's Nigel de Jong requests Hatem Ben Arfa meeting

 

Nigel de Jong

Manchester City enforcer Nigel de Jong has asked to meet Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa when the Magpies visit the Blues on Saturday.

The Frenchman suffered a double leg fracture in a challenge by the Holland international the last time they went head-to-head on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium in October last year.

Ben Arfa has only just returned to action and manager Alan Pardew has sat him down to ask him if the psychological impact of returning to the scene of his agonising misfortune was a concern.

Pardew said: "I had a conversation with him this morning about it because I think you could carry some demons when you have an injury like that.

"But he was absolutely clear to me this morning that he has no problem about going back there, no problem about facing their particular player.

"The player has contacted him, which I appreciate as the manager of the other team, and he wants to see Hatem. We have said after the game would be a good time, not before.

"Hopefully, that will then come to rest.

"At the time, I thought - and I wasn't the manager at the time - it was a bad tackle, but they do happen in the game and unfortunately Hatem suffered a severe injury.

"What I do know is, a year down the line - and it has taken that long - he is back somewhere near his best, and that's good news for us."

Ben Arfa could find himself involved as then Barclays Premier League leaders entertain the surprise occupants of third place with Leon Best struggling to shake off a groin problem.

Adam Johnson set to sign new four-year deal with Manchester City

 

Pen to paper: Adam Johnson

City winger Adam Johnson is close to agreeing a new deal to tie him to the club until 2015, it was reported today.
Johnson, who moved to City from Middlesbrough in January 2010, has put pen to paper on the extension despite having more than three years to run on his current deal.
The 24-year-old has made more than 50 appearances since his move to the Etihad Stadium as well as breaking into Fabio Capello's England squad.

QPR 2 - 3 Man City

Silva scored his fourth goal of the season at Loftus Road

Manchester City kept up their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with victory over QPR in an entertaining see-saw encounter at Loftus Road.

Rangers began well and led through Jay Bothroyd's header but Edin Dzeko fired City level just before half-time.
David Silva slotted City ahead, but QPR hit back when Heidar Helguson deflected in Bothroyd's header on the line.
The visitors rallied again though and struck decisively 16 minutes from time when Yaya Toure headed in the winner.
City have lapped up the plaudits this season for a series of handsome wins but manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that his side also learn to grind out results when they do not play well. He now has an example to point to.

Coach Platt defends lack of clean sheets

Mancini's men were far from their best but dug in to earn a 10th win in 11 league games and an eighth successive victory in all competitions to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table.
Great news for City, but the result was harsh on Neil Warnock's side who gave as good as they got even though the odds were stacked against them.
Despite of the absence of Shaun Derry and Adel Taarabt because of illness and injury respectively, the home side began superbly. Helguson twice threatened early on with shots from the right-hand corner of the box before Anton Ferdinand spurned a great chance at the back post following the Icelandic striker's header back across goal.
The home side continued in this vain and were rewarded in the 28th minute when Bothroyd rose highest to head in Joey Barton's curling free-kick from the right.
It could have been much worse for City before the break, but goalkeeper Joe Hart saved Jamie Mackie's long-range shot and Helguson's headed follow-up - although the latter was offside - before Bothroyd hit the post with another header.

Manchester City have now become the fifth club in the English top-flight to win at least 10 of the first 11 matches of a season. Of the seven previous occasions this has happened, only Liverpool (1990/1991) and Manchester United (1985/1986) failed to win the title.

However, even when they are not playing well, City's quality ensures they remain a threat and they demonstrated this with aplomb two minutes before half-time.
QPR defender Ferdinand had earlier denied Dzeko with a superb block, but this time the striker got the better of the defender, cutting inside him after being found by Milner down the right, and firing in low past Paddy Kenny.
It would have been harsh on the home side, but City could have led at the break had a post not denied Sergio Aguero's 25-yard strike.
Early in the second half City did lead when Silva neatly took Dzeko's cross from the right in his stride before lashing the ball past Kenny.
The game now swung in the favour of the visitors and it seemed just a matter of time before they scored again.
It is testimony to QPR's spirit then that it was they who next found the net as Bothroyd's goalbound header from an Armand Traore cross ultimately found the net courtesy of the back of Helguson, who was on the goalline but - despite the protestations of a number of City players - not offside.
Toure would have the decisive say though, rising high to power a header past Kenny from Aleksandar Kolarov's cross.
QPR would have one more chance to salvage a point but the bar denied Helguson with a late header and the points went to City.

Warnock pleased with gung-ho Rangers

Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock:
"We were organised and took the game to them, and I think we played some cracking football. It was the width of the post on a couple of occasions.
"The crowd were great, but we got punished by quality players. They came down here today, some of the foreign lads, maybe not aware of us. I thought it was a great game of English football.
"We thought, 'If we're going to get beat, we might as well have a go at them and get beat.'
"We can improve, but we've shown a lot of people today what we can do."
Manchester City coach David Platt:
"Perhaps we weren't at our sharpest, what with all the travelling midweek and a few knocks as well.
"We didn't have that brightness in our play. The important thing is that when we are not at our sharpest we can still go on and take the three points.
"One clean sheet in seven is a by-product of the way we play. Last season we had the best defensive record in the division. If you're as offensive as we are then we're going to be open to one or two things. The manager's a perfectionist and he'll be looking at that."

Live text and stats

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
QPR	2-3	Man City	FT
(HT 1-1)
Bothroyd 28 Helguson 69		Dzeko 43 Silva 52 Y Toure 74

Yaya Toure rings in a Nou Blues era at Manchester City

 

Yaya Toure of Manchester City

 

City are storming the Premier League – and they’re doing it the Barcelona way. The man who says the Blues have adopted a similar mentality to the Catalan giants – seen by many as the greatest team in history – should know. He has played for both clubs.

Ex-Barca star Yaya Toure returned to Spain with City on Wednesday night and scored twice as they became the first English team ever to win at Villarreal.

And, while he was keen to stress that the Blues are still behind the Catalan giants in the overall scheme of things, he said the mind-set is along the same lines.

“That’s what we want, and the mentality we have is fantastic now,” said Yaya, whose brace at El Madrigal was the first time he has ever scored twice in a game.

“ Everybody is getting that winning mentality. If you want to win things you need that. You have to work, concentrate and recover quickly every two days.

“Every game we go out, we have to put pressure on ourselves to be winners. But with the team we have now everybody has that and everyone is improving well.”

City head to Queen’s Park Rangers tomorrow, and a win would mean the Blues have had the best start to a league season since the all-conquering Liverpool side in 1978 – and they ended that season as champions.

But City have also upped their game in the Champions League after a nervous start, back-to-back wins against Villarreal setting them up for a make-or-break trip to Napoli on November 22.

Yaya won that trophy with Barcelona, but says City’s aim has to be simply to progress.

“We need to try and go as far as possible. It is early to go thinking we can go right through because there are already big teams there,” he said.

“You have to respect Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United. They are always in the Champions League and have a lot of experience.

Fantastic

“For us it is our first time in the Champions League so we have to go as far as we can and that will be fantastic experience for us.”

He also hesitated to start talking about City in similar terms to Barca and Real Madrid, even though the Blues have begun the season with a goalscoring blitz which has relegated the two Spanish titans into being support acts in the entertainment business.

“Of course there is a difference between us and them,” said Yaya.

“Barcelona has been a big club for a long time. If City want to be a club like that we have to win some Premier Leagues, maybe some Champions League to be like them.
They are the top team in the world. Then there’s Madrid – they’re another top team. It shows we still have a long way to go. We have to continue to improve.”

City have blitzed domestic opposition, averaging 3.6 goals a game in the opening 10 fixtures, the best goalscoring record since Preston North End’s “Invincibles” netted 38 times in the very first English league season in 1888-89.

The City fans have revelled in the feast, and have adapted an Old Trafford anthem, singing “We’ll score when we want.”

The strikers have bagged 23 goals between them, and the midfield players have also weighed in.

But Yaya says that if it looks easy from the stands, it is anything but.

“It’d be nice to try and keep that goalscoring average, but the Premier League is the best competition in the world so it will be difficult,” he said.

“You have to work hard to score goals in the Premier League – you saw that against Wolverhampton. But everyone is happy with what we are doing now – we just have to continue like we are doing.”

The other tricky factor for City is to balance European and Premier League success.

“They face a QPR side which beat Chelsea in their last home game, and which has spent all week preparing to play City.

By contrast, the Blues have flown out for three days in Valencia, played a difficult match and only flew back to London yesterday. Their preparation for tomorrow’s game boils down to today’s training session.

Said Yaya: “We have not much time to prepare now for QPR. They are doing well at home, they beat Chelsea, we’ll have to concentrate fully because it won’t be easy there.

“We have to be strong, be clever. “

The Blues are likely to draft Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko into the side, while Gareth Barry should return to midfield and Micah Richards and Aleks Kolarov are likely to slot back into the full back positions.

Vincent Kompany will serve a one-match ban for his red card against Wolves, which means Stefan Savic is set to make his full Premier League debut alongside Joleon Lescott.