European novices have players to go distance

FOLLOWING a 6-1 victory over Manchester United and an average of four goals a game in recent weeks the comparisons between Manchester City and Barcelona, which seemed so frivolous at the start of the season, are now beginning to appear rather more justified; so could this be City’s year not only at home but also in Europe?

Nobody who witnessed the way David Silva and his teammates demolished United at Old Trafford before handing over to the reserves to steamroller Wolves 5-2 a few days later in the Carling Cup, can have any doubts that Roberto Mancini’s side are now serious contenders as they prepare to return to Champions League action on Wednesday.

Some of their football during both those matches would have been well received even at the Nou Camp; not least the swift interplay between Silva, Yaya Toure, James Milner, Pablo Zabaleta, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero that led to so many goals at the Theatre of Dreams. And it is not only the results that have made rivals across Europe sit up and take notice — although winning 6-1 at Old Trafford would surely have done so on its own — but also the style of the goals scored by a team that only last year was accused of being over-defensive.