And it promises to be an extra-special occasion as we mark the 125th anniversary of City’s first league game and victory back in September 1894 with the Club set to reflect on those historic moments and celebrate its heritage with our fans.
To mark the milestone, as well as looking ahead to the game with match predictions, some intriguing comments from Bernardo Silva and a snippet of transfer gossip, Saturday’s Media Watch also goes back 125 years to get a fascinating flavour of what was making the news on this very day back on September 21 1894.
Coming right back up to date, there’s also the thoughts of Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores as well as a focus on the quality and potential of young central defender Eric Garcia.
Plenty to whet the appetite then so without further ado, we kick-off with a fascinating feature in the Daily Mail with Bernardo, who talks about life playing under Pep Guardiola and how he is inspired to try and create more history with City.
News
Daily Mail – Bernardo on City’s hunger for more success
Ian Ladyman: “For us it’s simple,’ Bernardo tells Sportsmail. ‘We have to set new targets and new records to keep going.
READ: Man 125 Years | Pep: Mendy has a special quality
WATCH: Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 City | Brief highlights
“The maximum number of Premier League titles is three in a row. We want to try and reach that level of the best teams ever to play in this country.
“If you want to do that, you have to win constantly. That’s the main target now. Not to be a normal team but a team that constantly dominates English football; a special team.’
“l have signed a contract that goes until 2025 and if I didn’t want to stay here for a long time, I wouldn’t have signed it,’ he said.
“To know that if you stay you are going to fight for all the titles over the next 10 years gives you the willingness and ambition to stay; to try to do your best to be important at the club.
“I think that’s why Sergio and David have stayed so long. I think we are now arriving at the stage where we can fight for European trophies as well.”
watfordfc.com – Sanchez Flores: It is time to be realistic
“Quique Sanchez Flores helped restore some belief by choreographing a thrilling comeback at Vicarage Road against Arsenal that very nearly resulted in a most unlikely win. Sánchez Flores, though, has been keen to stress it was just a point, albeit a very good point, and that there is plenty of hard work to be done, starting with the trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
“We have good feelings,” said the Head Coach. “We need to make sure we don’t go too much about this match as the next one is completely different. “It is not a time to talk about how many shots or how many attempts we had. It is time to be realistic. We still need to change the dynamic – this is the first step and then change for the next opponent.”
City 125 from the archives
Now from the present to the past as we look at a flavour of the what was making the news at the time of our formation. Football news was conspicuous by its absence back then – but horse racing from Manchester did garner plenty of attention in the Manchester Guardian on September 21st, 1894..
The Manchester Guardian - Manchester September meeting
“Thursday - The rain fell incessantly at Manchester during Wednesday night and at exercise hours this morning the outlook at New Barns was wretched in the extreme.
“But matters took a more favourable turn as noon approached and the storm clouds had dispersed when the proceedings were opened at fifteen minutes past two.
“Once or twice during the afternoon however slight drizzling rain fell but the showers were of brief duration.
“Lord Ellesmere secured the De Trafford Handicap by aid of Zamiel who followed up his Stockton Handicap victory by running the well-backed Kyle out of the race at last, Paddy, who had started favourite, giving a poor exhibition.”
The paper also reported on a special evening of celebration which puts both the time and context of our founding into remarkable historical context
“Three hundred and 20 old soldiers now living in Manchester and Salford who took part in the Crimean War were last night entertained to dinner at Belle Vue Gardens.
READ: City 125 DNA #4 - Don Revie
WATCH: City unveil Vincent Kompany mosaic
“Before sitting down the veterans were inspected by General Sir Julian Hall. The ex-Mayor (Sir Bosdin Leech) presided and the toast of the evening ‘The heath of the Crimean veterans’ was proposed by the Mayor of Salford (Sir W Bailey) and responded to by general Sir Richard Wilbraham.”
Finally, in the popular classified section of the Manchester Guardian, there were enticing offers of passage across the Atlantic for those seeking adventure – or perhaps a new life in the new world.
“Cunard Line Royal Mail Steamers from Liverpool calling at Queenstowns
“Five and a half day passages to New York and Boston
“To New York: the Lucania (Sat 22), Etruria (Sat 29), Campania (Sat Oct 6). To Boston: Cephalonia (Thurs Sep 27), Catalonia (Thurs Oct 4), Scythia (Thurs Oct 11)
“Superior accommodation at moderate fares for First and Second Class passengers. Steerage passage to all parts of America and Canada at low rates.
“Apply to the Cunard Steamship Company, Limited 18 Brazenose Street, Manchester.”
Back to the present now and there are a number of pundits’ predictions ahead of today’s game.
Predictions
skysports.com – Charlie Nicholas
“At the moment, City have defensive frailties and injuries. Fernandinho can play there and is comfortable doing so, Rodri could play there if needed, but Kyle Walker played as a back three for England and Guardiola could be tempted with him.
“Watford got out of jail against Arsenal, and that was from living off mistakes. I do not see Manchester City being upset by the way Watford play.
“I think a few may get a rest, but City will be angered by last weekend and will want to close the gap quite quickly, with Liverpool having a tough game this weekend.”
Prediction 1-0
BBC – Mark Lawrenson
“I presume Fernandinho will fill in at the back for Manchester City, the same way as he did in their win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, because they don’t have anyone else to partner Nicolas Otamendi.
“That all went pretty smoothly, and they definitely looked a better defensive unit than they did last weekend against Norwich, when they defended abysmally.
“I cannot see it being much of an issue against the Hornets at the Etihad to be honest.
READ: Which TV channel is City v Watford on
WATCH: Arteta perfect for management: Guardiola
“Watford showed a bit of spirit to come back from 2-0 down for a point against Arsenal last weekend, in Quique Sanchez Flores’s first game back in charge.
“But I do not see them keeping City quiet. It won’t quite be a repeat of the scoreline from last season’s FA Cup final, but I see Pep Guardiola‘s side winning comfortably.”
Prediction 3-0
Opinion
Manchester Evening News – Evaluating Eric Garcia ahead of a crucial period
David Alexander Hughes: “The young Spaniard doesn’t make any rash decisions under pressure and reads opposition attacks well. Giving City’s dominance in matches, he will rarely sustain long periods of deep defensive work.
“He is therefore required to remain alert at all times and position himself in a place where he can track the opposition striker but yet be prepared to pounce on any quick transitions from attack to defence when City lose possession in dangerous areas.
“Despite there only being a small sample size, the above was shown in those first-team performances from last season in which he averaged 4.85 interceptions per 90 minutes.
“Whilst his aerial duel success rate of 58 per cent was impressive, as was his solid defensive duel success rate of 79 per cent from the same period, it’s his ability on the ball that may prove most pivotal for City.
“On his current trajectory, Garcia is set to be a regular within the first-team in the not so distant future, however if he can shine when bestowed an opportunity in the coming weeks, then he may be able to establish himself as a regular in the side sooner than many had expected.”
Transfer gossip
sportsmole.co.uk – ‘City scout teenage Turkish midfielder’
Matt Law: “City are reportedly keeping tabs on Altinordu midfielder Burak Ince.
“The 15-year-old became the youngest ever player to appear in Turkey’s second division when he debuted for Altinordu last month, and he has since featured on two more occasions for the club.
“According to Fotospor, scouts from City watched Ince in action against Eskisehirspor last weekend, where the teenager both scored and provided an assist in a 4-1 win.
“The report claims that the English champions were one of three European clubs in attendance to watch the youngster, with Lille and Freiburg also monitoring his progress.
“Ince, who largely operates in the middle of the park, has represented Turkey at Under-14, Under-15 and Under-16 level.”
