Peter Crouch, writing in the Daily Mail, says City are the best-placed Premier League team to secure Champions League success this season.
He believes the demands to win both the Premier League and Champions League are becoming too much in modern-day football, but says it’s City who are best equipped to conquer Europe.
“This is the season and I say that with confidence. It will be seven years since Chelsea became the last Premier League team to win the Champions League, but I believe the long wait is almost over,” he writes.
“You might think it is premature to make such a prediction, given we’ve only had one side contest the Champions League final since 2012, but our teams have arguably never been stronger than they are now. If you put me on the spot, I’d say Manchester City will be the team to end our hoodoo.
“The confidence of these words, though, also come with another prediction. I don’t believe it will be possible for a Premier League team to conquer Europe as well as being champions of England in the same campaign.
“City are best equipped to cope with the demands, but to win both, I am convinced, is an impossible task.”
Bold words from Peter…
READ: Guardiola backs Sane to shine
READ: Manchester City annual report 2017-18
Most of the attention across this morning’s media outlets is on the return of Premier League football, which is back this weekend after an international hiatus.
Fulham are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium and the press have been having on their say on how City should lineup.
Writing in the Manchester Evening News, Stuart Brennan says the competition for places in Pep Guardiola’s squad is fiercer than ever, and he backed Leroy Sane for a return to the starting XI.
“Ederson and Fernandinho are just about the only players guaranteed a start against Fulham tomorrow, such is the competition in Pep Guardiola‘s squad,” he writes.
“But now is the time for the manager to back up his encouraging words for Leroy Sane by bringing the winger back in the team - and playing him in tandem with Benjamin Mendy.
“Riyad Mahrez has not pulled up any trees yet, and with two games a week from now until Christmas everyone will get a look-in.
“That means it would also be an opportune moment to give Nicolas Otamendi his first start of the season - Guardiola can mix and match his centre backs with no apparent drop n standard.
“Stuart’s XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy; Bernardo, Fernandinho, D. Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane”
And, finally, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson says he can’t see anything other than a City win.
In his pre-match notes ahead of today’s game, he said: “Nothing but a home win here - it will be a case of ‘how many?’ I watched Fulham at Brighton. It’s very nice to pass the ball around at the back when you’re 2-0 up but come on? If they defended properly, they’d have won that game. It’s alright to play ‘total football’ but there’s a time and a place. If they try and play like that at Manchester City, then they’ll get hammered.”
That’s all for this morning’s media roundup. Stay with us throughout the day as we bring you full coverage of the game against Fulham.
