Micah Richards says Manchester City aim to end 43-year wait to be England’s best
Micah Richards has issued a warning to City’s Premier League rivals ahead of the new season, declaring: ‘We are title challengers’.
The Blues start their pursuit of a first league title for 43 years with Swansea’s visit to the Etihad Stadium tonight.
City finished third last season, their highest finish since the Premier League’s inception in 1992. But Richards has challenged his team-mates to better that this season with the England defender adamant the current squad have never had a better chance of emulating the 1968 title-winning team.
“The title is possible, definitely,” said Richards. “I do believe we’re title challengers. United are obviously a very good team and there’s Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. I do believe on our day we can beat anyone so why can’t we win the title?”
Roberto Mancini was clear last season that his priority was to secure Champions League football and end City’s 35-year wait for a trophy.
That done, he will be expected to bring more success to the Etihad Stadium but Richards dismissed the suggestion that the Blues will be under any additional pressure this season.
“I don’t think there’s an extra pressure,” said the 23-year-old. “People look at our team and our squad and know that we’re challengers.
“That can only be good for the club that people are starting to take us seriously. I wouldn’t say there is added pressure. We’re relishing it.”
After five wins from five during pre-season trips to America and Ireland, City’s preparations for the 20th Premier League season were dealt a blow with defeat to United in the Community Shield.
But Richards insists City will bounce back when the serious business starts tonight and warned new boys Swansea they are in the Blues’ cross hairs.
“We’ll look to improve in the first game against Swansea,” said Richards. “It’s not going to be easy. They’re going to be up for it so it’s going to be a good game.
“We know of their threat but we don’t want to focus on them, we want to focus on us.
“We’ll go into it all guns blazing.” MuEN
FA caves in to allow Touré's early return to training as end of ban nears
Touré is likely to be in contention to face Wigan as soon as his six-month suspension ends
The Football Association has waived the final three weeks of Kolo Touré's training ban to enable him to regain fitness ahead of the conclusion of his enforced six-month absence for taking an illegal substance.
An FA tribunal ruled in May that the Manchester City defender should be banned from playing and training with City until 2 September as punishment after taking his wife's dietary tablets and City had expected that the two or three weeks it would take for the Ivorian to return to match fitness would deprive them of his services until late next month.
But Touré has started training with his team-mates already. The decision to allow him to return at least 20 days earlier than the FA's regulatory commission hearing had stipulated means he will possibly be available immediately after next month's international break and in contention for City's fourth Premier League match – at home to Wigan.
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, who served an eight-month ban in 2003 for failing to attend a drugs test, expressed surprise at what he saw as the leniency of Touré's six-month ban, backdated to the start of Touré's provisional suspension on 2 March. After a seven-hour meeting on 26 May, the commission was satisfied that he did not intend to enhance sporting performance.
This news offers some relief to manager Roberto Mancini, who has not bought the established centre-half he believes his side need for the new campaign. Phil Jones, a player admired at the Etihad Stadium for his versatility as a defender and midfielder, has since headed to United. Stefan Savic, the £6m arrival from Partizan Belgrade, is considered a player for the future.
Mancini is expected to start £38m signing Sergio Aguero on the bench tonight as City begin their Premier League campaign at home to Swansea City, with Carlos Tevez unlikely to play even a substitute's role until next Sunday at Bolton.
City continue their pursuit of Arsenal's Samir Nasri although the deal remained incomplete last night, with the structure of payments for the £22m midfielder the only stumbling block. Nasri is expected to sign a £165,000 a week, five-year contract possibly before tonight's game. Independent
Manchester City (probable; 4-2-3-1): Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; De Jong, Barry; Silva, Y Touré , Balotelli; Dzeko.
Swansea City (probable; 4-3-3): Vorm; Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Tate; Britton, Allen, Agustien; Dyer, Sinclair, Graham
Chelsea transfer target Neymar 'eyed by Manchester City'
Neymar could be on his way to the Premier League, but with Manchester City rather than Chelsea.
The Brazil striker has been a transfer target for both Chelsea and Real Madrid over the past few months, but the player decided to commit his immediate future to his current club Santos.
That could soon change, as City scouts have apparently given Roberto Mancini glowing reports about the 19-year-old.
Mancini is now planning to ask the board to make landing Neymar a priority, reports the People.
The Italian sees the teenager as someone who could slot into the City team immediately and form a successful long-term partnership with Sergio Aguero.
Santos have already rejected offers in excess of £30 million for Neymar, so the Citizens may have to break their transfer record - the £38 million paid to Atletico Madrid for Aguero - to secure his signature.
Meanwhile, another City target, Samuel Eto'o, has hinted he may still end up in Manchester.
The Inter Milan striker is in talks with Anzhi Makhachkala about a deal that would make him the world's highest paid footballer, but indicated on Saturday that he still needs to be convinced about moving to Russia.
'There's nothing to say I will leave and nothing to say I will stay [at Inter], there could still be a surprise from England,' the Cameroon international said. Metro
Home form is vital for Manchester City, says Colin Bell
MANCHESTER CITY legend Colin Bell has warned the Blues they must “go for it” on home soil this season.
City boss Roberto Mancini has already warned his players to beware of a very motivated Swansea team when the newly-promoted Welsh outfit visit the Etihad Stadium tonight.
And, with Argentina duo Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero both less than fully fit after spending last month on Copa America duty, City head into the clash short of what Mancini wants, without taking into account his well-aired grievances about transfers.
However, with Liverpool and Arsenal both dropping points on the opening day, an opportunity has already opened up for City to make a flying start.
And Bell believes it should merely be the start of imposing form on home soil.
“If we are to have any chance of winning the title, we have to really go for it at home and win most of our games here starting against Swansea,” said the former England international.
“I’d like to see us set our stall out and attack teams at home because we have the players to do it. I want to see us turn teams over and make teams frightened to come to the Etihad Stadium.”
It was only to be expected City’s ongoing transfer business would dominate until the end of the month.
For Bell, an integral member of the last City team to win the title in 1968, it is a peripheral matter compared with the bigger picture of collecting those precious first few points.
“There are a group of players that I would select every week if I was the manager,” he said.
“Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Nigel de Jong, and David Silva would be foremost amongst them but we have many more great players besides. I am sure Sergio Aguero will bring something different to the table and hopefully prove just as effective as Carlos Tevez.”
Nasri signing to Man City bench
If not, then Adam Johnson may be off
At least that’s what Manchester City winger Adam Johnson insists.
Johnson is quoted as saying in The Sun that he will not be forced out of by Samir Nasri's imminent arrival.
Johnson himself has been linked with a loan move away from the Etihad with Sunderland and Everton both in the frame.
But boss Roberto Mancini has promised the England winger he still has a role to play and AJ wants to battle for his City place.
The ex-Boro winger, who is expected to feature on the bench in tonight's opener against Swansea, was quoted in The Sun as saying: "I know the manager has said he wants another winger. But with the players we've got here, most of us know we won't play every single game.
"That's just part of being at a massive club like this. Two players for every position is good but if it was any more than that it would be difficult to get a game."
Sergio Aguero may be joined by Carlos Tevez on the bench tonight.
City will turn down any efforts from Inter Milan to take Tevez on loan as the price remains set at £50million from any European club.
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Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is considering a move for Celtic's Northern Ireland international winger Paddy McCourt. Daily Mirror
One man who appears to be on his way out of Anfield is midfielder Christian Poulsen, who hopes to seal a move away from the club this month. The Denmark international is surplus to requirements and is keen for regular first-team football. Daily Mail
Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Mircea Lucescu has confirmed that Arsenal are in contention to sign their Brazilian playmaker Jadson. Metro
Fulham are considering a move for Aston Villa right-back Luke Young. The ex-Charlton and Spurs defender, whose family live in Wimbledon, is keen on a return to the capital. Daily Mirror
Blackburn's ambitious hopes of landing Raul from Schalke have been boosted by a stand-off between the Spaniard and coach Ralf Rangnick. Raul made a point of not celebrating after scoring against Cologne on Saturday and the Ewood Park club, Malaga and Russian side Anzhi are showing an interest in signing him. Daily Mail
Bolton defender Zat Knight says Gary Cahill's goal in their 4-0 win over QPR was no surprise - because he scores ones like it in training all the time. talkShiT
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