Nigel de Jong has continued the inquest into Manchester City’s Champions League exit by insisting the Blues are close to ruling Europe.
City crashed out of the Champions League despite racking up 10 points in Group A alongside Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal.
That haul would have been enough to qualify from six of the eight groups and Dutchman de Jong believes that’s proof enough that City are ready to challenge for the Champions League trophy next season.
“We are not far off from challenging in the Champions League,” said de Jong.
“We won’t be affected by the setback. We made a few mistakes. It’s all about experience and being consistent at this level. As a group we didn’t play in the Champions League until now, so this is a good experience.
“You have to make mistakes – and we did that this season – and learn from them.
“It’s a shame we lost our place but we still have four cups to play in. We have announced ourselves on this stage.”
Neighbours United also failed to make it out of their Champions League group and will join City in the Europa League draw next week.
With City and United separated by five points at the top of the Premier League and paired together in the FA Cup third round, the Blues could potentially stop United winning anything for the first time in six years this season.
But de Jong refused to delight in the struggles of City’s Red rivals, choosing instead to focus on winning trophies, not stopping others.
“It’s a shame for Manchester because the biggest teams in the Premier League are not going to be in the Champions League but, on the other side, we have a lot to play for.
“We could be challenging United for the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League but we have to see what the draw is.
“You can see there’s a reverse league now. The Europa League is a little bit like the Champions League with all the big teams in there, United, Porto, Olympiakos and Ajax. We are not despairing about the season because it’s still early.
“Winning the Premier League would make up for going out of the Champions League. That was our main target this season.
“We didn’t go through but we can’t let that distract us from our main target and that’s winning the Premier League.”
After Wednesday’s European disappointment, City will re-start their title challenge with a trip to Chelsea on Monday. And while de Jong concedes there’s still a long way to go before City can be crowed champions, he insists victory at Stamford Bridge would represent an important step.
“You always have to prove yourself against the strongest and what is better than a Chelsea in form?” said the Dutchman.
“You have to beat them to become Premier League winners. They are still title contenders and still up there. We are still in December and the next few months are going to be very hard. Then you can see who are fighting for the prizes.”
Samir Nasri: only Manchester United can stop Manchester City winning the title not Chelsea
Staying in tune with their most famous fans, Manchester City are trying not to look back in anger but a sense of frustration still pervades the inquest into why they went from the feast of the Champions League to the finger buffet of the Europa League circuit.
Ambitious players like Samir Nasri want to look forward as well, focusing on Chelsea in the Premier League tomorrow, but the wounds from last week’s exit from Europe’s top club competition still require dressing.
Always one of the more thoughtful dressing-room talkers, the Frenchman argued that English clubs are at a disadvantage to their Spanish counterparts. “The problem is you lose too much energy when you play in the Premier League,’’ reflected Nasri.
“Even when you play the team on the bottom it is difficult. Barcelona, when they play Almeria or someone, win 8-0. In the Premier League you don’t win 8-0 against Norwich or another team.
“It is a more demanding league at all levels. In Spain last year the difference between the first [Barcelona with 96 points] and second [Real Madrid, 92] and the third [Valencia] was 21 points. But Barcelona and Real are good teams. They show it every year in the Champions League.”
Yet Chelsea, and Nasri’s old club Arsenal, reached the knock-out stage. Nasri indicated that those two were not challenging for the title. “Us and Man United give everything and it’s difficult,’’ he said.
So would the humiliation make City hungrier? “No, no, we were hungry from the start of the season. They invest a lot with the new players to win the Premier League and this [objective] will not change. At the start we wanted to win everything. Now we’ll be focused on the Premier League and the Europa League because it’s a trophy and we have the quality to win it.”
And so to the Bridge. “Chelsea are in good form as well so it will be an interesting game but we’re prepared for this and will be fighting on Monday.
"It’s difficult against Chelsea but it’s difficult against Tottenham, United and Liverpool and we had great results against those teams, so I don’t know what we have to fear about Chelsea.
"We are confident about our quality and we’ll try to play the same game Liverpool did against them in the League. If you press them high and you play your football they’ll be in difficulties.”
Never short of an opinion, Nasri does not see Chelsea as City’s biggest rivals for the title. “No, no. Manchester United – they have more experience. How they will handle the disappointment of the Champions League we will see.
"Tottenham are in good form and have good players. With [Emmanuel] Adebayor and Scott Parker they changed their team.’’
So have City, playing with more fluidity and intensity this season, copying the Barcelona style of winning the ball high up the pitch to score freely. Sergio Agüero leads the way with 11 in the League followed by Edin Dzeko (10), Mario Balotelli (seven), David Silva and Adam Johnson (both four).
“Our model is Barcelona and the way they press really high,’’ continued Nasri. “When you get the ball in the other half it is always easier because you have less to run and you are more fresh in the last 30 metres. It’s the way we want to play.” Swift interchanging of attackers has been a formidable feature of City’s season. For a creative type like Nasri, the blur of blue around him gives him many options.
“Yes, you can see that. I had six assists in the Premier League last year with Arsenal and I have the same already with City. You have lots of changing of positions when you have the ball in the last 30 metres.’’
Nasri nodded when mention was made of Roberto Mancini’s public comment about the need for City to be tighter at the back. “He’s being saying that to us as well!’’ smiled Nasri ruefully, giving an insight into the demanding Italian. “He’s someone who is never happy with the result. When we won 5-1 he wants his team to have a clean sheet as well.
“So he taught us how to defend and we agree. If we want to be one of the biggest teams in the world we have to improve as a team how to defend.”
When Mancini fields his more buccaneering full-backs, Micah Richards and Gaël Clichy, the onus is on City’s wide players to cover for the overlapping pair. “You can see that with David, James [Milner], Adam or me. We make an effort to help our defenders.’’
Mancini is making Nasri a more all-round footballer, nurturing defensive qualities to complement attacking ones learned under Arsène Wenger at Arsenal.
“Tactically Italians are very strong. They are a lot into tactics, how to defend, when you lose the ball where will you be? He told me I know how to play with Arsenal, I play good football, so upfront I know what to do but defensively I have to improve. I’m 24, I can improve a lot.
“I needed a little bit of time to settle because I changed from Arsenal. It’s not the same mentality and not the same way to play football but the manager showed confidence in me, my team-mates as well. So now I start to play the football I love. I’m confident about the future.”
That future involves a Euro 2012 collision with England on June 11.
Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, Milner, possibly Johnson and Richards await in Donetsk. “They are a little bit upset with the result we had in Wembley,’’ said Nasri of France’s friendly win over England last year. The banter has been flowing at Carrington, although no bad tackles. “No!’’ laughed Nasri. “They told me they will wait until the last training session of the season and then they’ll try and do something!’’ He’d better look back.
Leonardo has confirmed that Paris SG are interested in Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez
The big-spending French outfit's sporting director revealed that an enquiry has been made about the Argentinian, who is destined to leave the Etihad Stadium in the January window following his break down in relations with City boss Roberto Mancini.
However, Leonardo also confirmed that his former club AC Milan are in the driving seat to sign Tevez as they have agreed terms with the player, who also favours a move to the San Siro.
Therefore, he feels PSG's only hope of landing Tevez will be if City refuse to loan him to Milan with a view to a permanent move next summer.
"PSG has not made a bid for Tevez, we have enquired," Leonardo told the Corriere della Serra.
"I spoke with the player's agent, he told me that Carlitos preferred to go to Milan.
"But Manchester wants to sell and not loan. If the City agrees to loan Tevez then he goes to Milan, the case is closed. Otherwise the market is open." (He's also recently claimed that they have signed Divy Spice)
City to keep Tevez if valuation not met
Manchester City are demanding a "fair market price" for Carlos Tevez and ESPNsoccernet understands that if the club's €35 million valuation is not met then the controversial striker will be forced to stay at Eastlands for the rest of the season.
Tevez, 27, is currently AWOL in Argentina having been punished by City for refusing to warm-up against Bayern Munich in September. The Argentina international is the subject of interest from AC Milan, though the Rossoneri have already had an offer turned down.
Milan wanted take Tevez on loan until the end of the season before buying him for €24 million, but City rejected the approach as they are not willing to entertain a loan deal, while the cash bid also fell well short of the threshold at which City are prepared to sell him.
Such is the incredible animosity and behind the scenes rows that City are digging their heels in over any potential Tevez transfer in the January window.
Reports in the Sunday papers suggested that Paris St. Germain's wealthy Qatari owners are set to lure Tevez to French football for £21 million, but in reality there has not yet been a bid from the Ligue 1 side.
A source close to the Tevez transfer action told ESPNsoccernet: "City have not received a bid from PSG, let alone accepted a bid. They are seeking a fair market price for Tevez, and as yet no-one has made an offer that reflects the fair market value for the player.
"City have all along made it clear, also, that they have no interest in any loan deal for Tevez, the manager has said it publicly and that is most definitely still the case."
City accepted a €40 million offer plus €4 million in add-ons from Brazilian giants Corinthians during the summer and are determined that Tevez's behaviour will not force the price down
City should never have let Daniel Sturridge go, says Roberto Mancini
The Manchester City manager laments the departure of a talented striker who may come back to haunt his side
Manchester City's next two games are against Chelsea and Arsenal, which will not only be testing but slightly galling given London's present advantage in Champions League representation. At least City travel to Stamford Bridge on Monday top of the Premier League table and aiming to stay there, though Roberto Mancini has not only a resurgent Didier Drogba and an in-form Juan Mata to worry about but a former City player in Daniel Sturridge.
The young striker has finally managed to show his true worth for Chelsea this season and, even if his finishing remains erratic, his pace and ability to beat players will pose problems for the best defences. Last week Sturridge cut Newcastle United wide open so many times it was embarrassing. He could have scored at least a hat-trick but, though he was one on one with the goalkeeper several times, a combination of Tim Krul's reflexes and a slight lack of composure in front of goal meant he got on to the scoresheet only in the 89th minute.
Mancini has no doubt that composure will arrive with experience. Sturridge moved south on Mark Hughes's watch, before Mancini arrived in Manchester, but the City manager still cannot believe the club let such a valuable asset leave almost for free.
"I know Sturridge well, I have watched him many times," Mancini says. "It was strange because he started out in Manchester and someone let him out of the club for nothing. Given the chance I think I would have liked to have kept him, but now he is at Chelsea we can do nothing. I know for sure he was one of the best young players that was here. I asked him last year when he played for Bolton why he left Manchester City and he said he didn't know."
The usual suspects, money and restricted first-team opportunities, were partly to blame, though once at Chelsea the now 22-year-old Sturridge had to come back north on loan to pick up playing time with Bolton. Mancini would have preferred to send him out on loan from City and have him back as a first-team player by now. "It was not difficult to see that Sturridge was going to be a good player," Mancini says diplomatically.
There is nothing to be gained from picking a row with the previous manager over something that now belongs in the past, but since Sturridge's quality began to emerge at Bolton and Chelsea many City supporters have questioned the logic of the club paying over the odds to sign Roque Santa Cruz, then hardly ever playing him, while simultaneously letting a home-grown talent with an exciting career ahead of him join a rival club relatively cheaply. Sturridge is not Manchester born and bred – he hails from Birmingham and is related to the former Wolves player Dean Sturridge – but he came through the City academy after spells at Aston Villa and Coventry and his potential was quickly spotted.
"If Sturridge was here today he would be playing in our first team," Mancini says. "This season he can arrive in the national team too. I understand the situation with young players, it is difficult for them to improve if they don't get the games they need, but it is better to send them on loan rather than lose them altogether." In fact City did make a modest amount of money on Sturridge. As he was both under 24 and out of contract in 2009 a tribunal awarded City £3.5m, rising to £5.5m depending on appearances, and Chelsea will have to forfeit 15% of any future sell-on fee.
Sturridge and Drogba both scored in Chelsea's 3-0 win at Newcastle last weekend, though Mata was named man of the match, then the 33-year-old Ivorian rolled back the years to confound some of his doubters with two goals in the victory over Valencia to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stage.
"Drogba is still a strong striker," Mancini says. "Chelsea have a good mix of young and old, and that's what you need. Mata is a young player but he played for Valencia for many years in the Champions League, Sturridge is just starting out. I think every team needs young players because you cannot play with just old players, senior players. But at the same time you often need experience. If young players play with senior players they can improve every day
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
CHELSEA boss Andre Villas-Boas can sign either Pato or Robinho from AC Milan if the Italian giants sign Man City’s Carlos Tevez.
CHELSEA will be given the chance to sign either Pato or Robinho from AC Milan if the Italian club land Carlos Tevez.
AC have let it be known that one of the Brazilian superstars will have to go if Tevez finally arrives at the San Siro from Manchester City next month.
And both of them have been targets in the past for Chelsea, who will lose a striker when the transfer-listed Nicolas Anelka is offloaded.
There are also doubts about the futures of another two Chelsea forwards – Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.
The Daily Star Sunday can reveal that top Premier League clubs are aware of the situation with Pato, 22, and former Manchester City record-signing Robinho, 27.
But Robinho who interests mega-rich Paris St-Germain, was sold by City to Milan 15 months ago for £15m – after arriving for £32.5m.
The Tevez situation remains deadlocked – Milan want him on loan while City are after a permanent deal. But that could change if Milan bring in big money through selling Pato or Robinho.
The AWOL Tevez has also been linked with PSG, Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli.
Real Madrid are thought to be monitoring Arsenal's star striker Robin Van Persie, who has said he will not discuss a new contract with the Gunners until the end of the season. Daily Mirror
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is believed to have agreed a £20m deal with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. the Sun
Harry Redknapp has sent a defiant message to Chelsea and Manchester United that Tottenham will not be selling midfielder Luka Modric or any of his other top players. London Evening Standard
Meanwhile, Redknapp has insisted that striker Roman Pavlyuchenko will not leave Spurs until a replacement has been found. talkSHIT
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly interested in bringing in Tottenham midfielder Sandro, who has been unable to secure a regular first-team place at White Hart Lane this term. Caughtoffside.com
Newcastle are believed to be preparing a bid for AC Milan defender Taye Taiwo. Since Jose Enrique's departure to Liverpool in the summer, Newcastle have been operating without a recognised left-back. Footie-online
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson insists there will be no panic buys at the club in the January transfer window. Birmingham Mail
Everton expect midfielder Ross Barkley to sign a new five-year deal next week after celebrating his 18th birthday. Liverpool Echo
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is considering recalling midfielder Gary Gardner who is currently on loan at Coventry as a replacement for injured Jermaine Jenas. Birmingham Mail
Blackburn manager Steve Kean is keeping his January transfer targets close to his chest as he looks to add to his youthful squad when the window reopens in the new year. Lancashire Telegraph
Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland midfielder Ray Houghton says the Reds must be patient with striker Andy Carroll if they want him to turn into a world-class striker. talkSHIT
Stoke striker Peter Crouch believes there is still time for him to sneak into Fabio Capello's England's Euro 2012 squad. Stoke Sentinel
Tottenham winger Andros Townsend could be ushered out of White Hart Lane in the January transfer window after a training ground bust-up. Metro
Blackburn Rovers' owners have been told by their bankers, Barclays that they must deposit £10million in the club's account by New Year's Eve or the bank will not extend the credit needed to pay the players' wages beyond the first month of 2012. Mail on Sunday
Chelsea's players are believed to be under orders to involve manager Andre Villas-Boas in their goal celebrations. the Sun
