Candid camera offers a glimpse of the team spirit which powered Manchester City to the title
Pictures taken from the new Manchester City book '#Champioins Uncut'1
Manchester City's superstars were said to have snarled and fought their way to the Premier League title, a team at civil war.
But a new book released by the club reveals that they GIGGLED their way to success – and portrays the real sense of unity which helped to power the Blues over the finishing line.
The book “#Champions Uncut” charts the story of the season in hundreds of pictures taken by club photographer Sharon Latham.
Critics claimed that City were an unhappy camp, pointing to pictures of isolated training-ground bust-ups.
But Latham’s snaps show the other side of the story, revealing there were more laughs than rows along the way.
We picked out some of our favourite pictures from the book, which M.E.N. readers can get at a discount price.
In one, Joe Hart is seen being accosted by an enthusiastic female fan as the team wait for a train at Stockport Station, much to the amusement of team-mates.
Carlos Tevez revealed he was more settled and happy at City, and then proved it with a beaming smile as he played with kids at a community event, while Nigel de Jong and Joleon Lescott took a bite out of their Premier League winner’s medals – just to make sure it wasn’t all a dream!
Mario Balotelli’s antics feature throughout, and even when he relaxed with a game of pool he couldn’t resist a bit of flamboyant headwear.
David Silva proved almost as skilful at cake-decorating as he is with a ball at his feet, while manager Roberto Mancini and Sergio Aguero lapped up the glory at the victory parade after the title triumph.
“#Champions Uncut” is on sale now at a recommended price of £20. M.E.N. readers can quote CITY2 to save £5 at http://www.zutopia.co.uk, 0845143 0001. Pictures: Copyright Manchester City FC.
Sergio Aguero in frame to make his Manchester City return
Sergio Aguero is fighting to be fit for Saturday’s trip to Stoke after stepping up his training at Carrington.
The Argentina striker was released from his international squad at the weekend after their medical staff agreed with the Blues’ doctor that he was unfit to play in the World Cup qualifiers.
Aguero damaged knee ligaments just minutes into the opening game of the season against Southampton, and has been missing
since.
Manager Roberto Mancini initially opposed Aguero’s call-up by the national team, saying he needed to remain in Manchester for treatment.
But the Argentine FA insisted, and Aguero is believed to have smoothed over the matter between club and country.
Since coming back earlier this week, Aguero has been running and has even done some ball work.
Now a decision will be taken to see if he can re-join the main group when they return to club duty today.
Bonus
His countryman Pablo Zabaleta should be fit – and fresh – after recovering from a tight hamstring which kept him out of Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay at the weekend.
Zabaleta was fit to play in the second international, a draw away to Peru, but was left on the bench.
City made a nice little bonus of £1.7million after David Silva and Mario Balotelli both reached the Euro 2012 final.
The fee is compensation for the use of players in the June tournament, and City picked up more money than any other English club.
Top of the payment list were Bayern Munich with £2.5million, while United picked up £1.3million.
City's Elite Development Squad tonight go in search of their first point in the NextGen Series, when Turkish side Fenerbahce visit Hyde’s Ewen Fields ground tonight (7pm). MuEN
The young Blues, who lost every group game last season, were beaten 2-0 by Paris St Germain in their group opener last month.
City to tempt Tevez into longer stay
Patrick Vieira hopes Carlos Tevez will extend his Manchester City contract and revealed "everyone loves Carlos in the dressing room".
The Argentina striker is more settled in England than ever before with his family back in Manchester and City's football development executive believes he would be open to committing himself to the club beyond the end of his current deal.
Tevez was on his way out when City manager Roberto Mancini said the striker was "finished" at the club after he refused to warm up in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in September 2011 - going AWOL in South America for half the season.
But Vieira insists the ex-Manchester United frontman remains a popular figure at the club and has been welcomed back to the fold.
"Carlos is a person everyone loves in the dressing room and hopefully he will stay," Vieira, who played alongside Tevez at Eastlands, said. "We are talking about one of the best players of his generation. One of the best signings we made last year was to keep Carlos."
Tevez, who has entered the final two years of his contract, has scored four goals in four games this season, leading Mancini to praise him for his attitude and performances.
Aleksandar Kolarov ready to face Cristiano Ronaldo
Aleksandar Kolarov is relishing the prospect of facing Cristiano Ronaldo after dealing with the threat of another wing wonder in Gareth Bale.
Manchester City full-back Kolarov was part of the Serbia side that hammered Bale's Wales 6-1 in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Novi Sad.
Wales boss Chris Coleman had warned Kolarov to expect a tough examination against Bale.
But the City defender had the last laugh as he opened the scoring with a free-kick and played a part in the home side's second and third goals as the Dragons were vanquished emphatically.
The Premier League champions meet Stoke at the weekend but then face the daunting task of travelling to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in their opening Champions League Group D clash.
And Kolarov, 26, knows just how crucial stopping Ronaldo, who has come in for criticism after claiming he is "sad" at Real, will be if City are to get a result in Spain.
"I knew about Bale from the Premier League, I've played against him before and I know how good he is but we kept him quiet," he said. "He scored a great free-kick but apart from that we did not have many problems.
"Ronaldo is something different. Everyone knows about him, there's nothing much more that you can say about him.
"He's a special player - with Messi he is the best player in the world. So to play against someone like that will be a big test. He played for Man United too so he will want to score against us.
"But I'll be confident because City can go to Madrid with confidence. It should be a great night for the club. "We are the champions of England and they will know it will not be an easy night for them as well. Everyone at Man City will look forward to going there."
City were eliminated in the group stages of last season's Champions League, and they face a tough task this time around with their group being completed by Ajax and Borussia Dortmund.
The Blues ultimately paid the price for a slow start that saw them pick up one point from their first two games, and Kolarov knows they cannot afford a repeat.
"We want to do better in the Champions League and qualify but again we have been given a really tough group. This time we need to start better than we did last year," he said.
Meanwhile, City's football development executive Patrick Vieira is confident his former Inter Milan team-mate Maicon has plenty to offer City.
The Brazilian right-back has joined from Inter for an undisclosed fee and Vieira said: "He is a fantastic player.
"I spent a few years with him at Inter and he has experience and talent.
"He has the ambition to be part of the Brazilian national team for the World Cup.
"It is something really important for him and I am sure he will bring a lot to this football club. He is a fantastic character to have around too."
"He has the experience of winning the Italian league and the Champions League and to have him at the football club is fantastic.
"Scott inclair is a young, talented player and hopefully coming to City will help him get to another level.
"Jack Rodwell has already played and has done really well so far, and Javi Garcia is also a young talent - it is exciting to have these players at the club."
Vieira: Maicon to help Man City’s Champions League bid
Manchester City’s football development executive, Patrick Vieira, has spoken of his delight at the Premier League champions’ capture of Brazilian full-back Maicon from Inter on transfer deadline day.
Two Italian cups and famously, the Champions League in 2009-10 under Jose Mourinho, where Maicon starred in victories over Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. According to the Daily Mail, it is this invaluable European experience that Maicon will bring to City as well as his quality on the pitch, as the Citizens look to mount a challenge for the Champions League title this season.
“Maicon is a fantastic player,” Vieira said. “I spent a few years with him at Inter and he has experience and talent. He has the ambition to be part of the Brazilian national team for the World Cup (in 2014). It is something really important for him and I am sure he will bring a lot to this football club. He is a fantastic character to have around too.”
Maicon, 31, faces a battle for his place in the City team at right-back, with Pablo Zabaleta being a favourite not only of manager Roberto Mancini, but the fans, while home-grown Micah Richards, currently on the treatment table, also a strong contender in that position.
City continue their title defence away to Stoke City on Saturday before beginning their Champions League campaign with a glamour tie away to Real Madrid in the Bernabeu three days later.
OTHER BOLLOX
Italian giants Juventus are the latest side to plan a move for Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, 23, in the January transfer window. Metro
The agent of goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 30, has denied claims the Spaniard is seeking an exit from Liverpool. talkShite
Real Madrid would be willing to sell Cristiano Ronaldo, 27, for a 200m euros (£160.15m) fee if they cannot resolve his current situation at the club. Goal
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is looking at Belgian international Anthony vanden Borre, 24, as he checks out three free agents. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are to offer manager Arsene Wenger a new contract, according to Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis. Daily Mirror
Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, 27, is ready to refuse to shake hands with Ashley Cole before Saturday's game against Chelsea at Loftus Road. (Let it go you twat)
Cesc Fabregas, 25, will not be leaving Barcelona on loan in January, according to his team-mate Gerard Pique. talkSPORT
Every Premier League captain is to hold talks with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) regarding player behaviour. Daily Mirror
Swansea are to give left-back Neil Taylor, 23, who is sidelined for the season after breaking his ankle against Sunderland, a new four-year deal. Sun
The Football Association is understood to be in negotiations to secure England home games against Germany and Argentina in November 2013. Times
American broadcaster ESPN took its patriotism to new levels as they confused Georgia, the eastern European country, with Georgia, the state in the south-eastern United States, during their showing of the World Cup qualifier against Spain. Metro
more bollox later ...
