The Blues host Liverpool in Saturday’s late kick-off and there’s plenty of previews floating around the media world today. So, what’s being said...?
Well, Joe Hart has shared his thoughts on the game with Sky Sports, discussing his side’s strength in depth and tactical flexibility.
The City and England shot-stopper declared: “We’ve changed it a few times, especially in the Champions League. We did particularly well playing a certain way in Sevilla, and we played a little bit differently away at Manchester United.
“Other than that, we have pretty much been on the front foot - how we’ve played for a number of years now under Pellegrini. How we set up is how we play.
“We’ve got some really strong players that don’t need too much training or honing. You tell them what they need to do and that’s how they play.
“It’s a big game for us [on Saturday]. It’s a team that we’ve struggled against away from home recently. We’ve had better form at home.
“Obviously they have a new manager, and I’m sure they have a similar situation with people coming back from international duty and injury. We’ll be ready.”
One of the main topics of discussion heading into the clash is the likelihood of Raheem Sterling facing his former club. There is suggestion the forward will receive a negative reception from the travelling supporters - but Hart insists it will not faze his teammate.
“He’s a very, very laid back guy and a great addition to our squad,” the ‘keeper stated. “He takes everything in his stride. I’m a big fan of his and will back him all the way. He’s the same guy whether he’s getting pounded in the press or praised in the press.
“I think the whole thing with Raheem has gone now. He got a few boos in pre-season around the world. Liverpool have got a big fan base, but they have got other things to worry about now.”
That view is also shared by Jamie Redknapp. In his column, the Sky Sports pundit reflects: “There’s a lot of bad feeling among Liverpool supporters towards him in terms of how he left for Manchester City in the summer, but I don’t think he believes he did anything wrong.
“At the end of the day, he’s not a Liverpool boy. He was at Queens Park Rangers, left there pretty quickly, and had a great couple of years at Anfield before moving on to Man City.
“Players playing for one club is a very rare sight in football these days. That’s just the way it is.
“Sterling and Liverpool - who have survived losing better players than him - have to move on.
“Will he celebrate if he scores on Saturday? I would if I was in his position. Liverpool fans have made their mind up on him. When he goes back to Anfield, will they be nice to him because he didn’t celebrate scoring against them? Of course not.”
Elsewhere, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted he knows nothing about how City will line-up against his side, according to the Mirror.
The German manager joked with press: “The difference between Liverpool and City is that at this moment we know nothing about City because their training ground seems to be deep in a forest.
“I have never been there and we know nothing! We don’t know about Aguero, we don’t know about Silva, we don’t know about Bony, and so on. Nothing.
“It makes it interesting. We are prepared to play against them with all these players or without these players. We will be prepared.”
Finally, after it was reported yesterday Real Madrid were considering making a move for Aguero, the Manchester Evening News today have rubbished the idea.
Writes Stuart Brennan: “Nothing the brilliant little Argentine has ever said would indicate that he is hankering after a move to Madrid, or pining for Barcelona.
“And yet the story has again reared its head that Real Madrid will lose Cristiano Ronaldo next summer – and that the Spanish giants will target Kun to replace him.
“Target away, because City’s position has been made abundantly clear. Aguero is not for sale, at any price.
“Just over 12 months ago, Kun signed a new deal which contractually ties him to the Etihad Stadium until 2019.
“Aguero is worth the world to City, quite literally. As well as being the darling of the fans, in hard-nosed commercial terms, he is the face of the club across the planet - the kind of global superstar they need to keep spreading the word.
“He has said how he likes life in Manchester, away from the publicity glare he would get in Madrid or Barcelona, and even prefers the rain to the uncomfortable warmth of the Med.
“In other interviews, he has said how profoundly his 93:20 goal to win the title in 2012 has affected his way of thinking. He adores City, and City adores him.”
We certainly do! That’s all for today in terms of City-related headlines but stay tuned to mcfc.co.uk for more pre-match build-up throughout the day...
