Manchester City are the club of immense wealth, of controversial individuals such as Carlos Tévez and Mario Balotelli, spicy themes that tend to dominate headlines.
City are also the club of a 26-year-old community department, of good citizens such as Vincent Kompany and Micah Richards.
When critics talk of the riches spent in edging City towards a first title in 44 years, they should remember the richness of character in Roberto Mancini’s dressing room.
Take Kompany. At last Thursday’s end-of-season dinner, the polite Belgian stepped up to collect his award as Community Player of the Year, a prize given to the player who has contributed most to the club’s assorted schemes. Kompany is captain sensible, speaking sense in six languages, as happy discussing world affairs with Etihad staff as chatting to fans about the team.
Kompany embodies the club’s mission statement, the pursuit of trophies with a dignity and community awareness off the pitch. One message spread through Etihad and Carrington by City’s Abu Dhabi owners is the importance of respect. To peers, to opponents.
Power-brokers such as Brian Marwood and Patrick Vieira require similar standards of behaviour.
Others challenged Kompany for the community award. Richards, Pablo Zabaleta and the Toure brothers, Yaya and Kolo, were all in contention. Every dressing room needs a Richards, a club man through and through, one of their own developed through the system.
These are young men with time on their hands so they should contribute willingly to community and charity initiatives. They are paid handsome sums by their employers so they should represent the club properly. Many players at other clubs do. Didier Drogba and Craig Bellamy raise millions for their own foundations. City are hardly unique yet the perception of mercenaries clearly requires addressing.
Take Tévez. Even Tévez. Since returning from his golfing break, he has been “a model pro”, according to City. Last Friday, he attended a Special Schools project for the disabled in Manchester, kicking balls around with the children for ages. It might not fit in with Tévez’s image but there he was, representing City well. On his day off.
Even Mad Mario has a conscientious streak. Many stories about Balotelli are myths but one certified by the club is that “Why Always Me?” did pay for six homeless people to spend Christmas Eve in a well-known city centre Manchester hotel. Balotelli wanted them to wake up somewhere warm and welcoming on Christmas Day.
In the past, City’s dressing room was home to factions. Staff wince at mention of the Robinho-Elano cabal. Now the buzzword is “together”, a sign even adorning the centre circle before the derby. They are winning, they are together and whispers of internal strife are rarely heard.
Manchester United's neighbours are not that noisy. David Silva is quiet and low maintenance, happily attending supporters’ club meetings. Sergio Agüero is similarly popular with City staff and apparently brilliant with kids, a popular choice when City field requests for a player to visit a local hospital.
Zabaleta is a coach’s dream, never complaining when dropped, willingly answering all calls for community or charity events. On a hospital visit, the Argentine particularly impressed staff with the time and care he spent over some stricken children. The Toure brothers devote time to City causes and their own African projects.
Take Joleon Lescott. When surprisingly overlooked for Kolo Toure, Lescott kept quiet, kept working hard and has now been rewarded, becoming an integral part of City’s push for the Premier League. Gaël Clichy is liked by staff as a similar smiling presence.
It helps having characters like Aleksandar Kolarov around, easing the tension. In keeping with Abu Dhabi’s desire for solid people, Kolarov broke off from warming up at Newcastle on Sunday to have a kickabout with a host mascot.
Like Kolarov, Joe Hart is an ebullient soul yet no arrogance can be detected in his words. After the derby, Hart’s respectful TV interview was noted with pride by club officials. There was no gloating, no triumphalism. Hart just represented the club in a positive way.
There are good manners amid the money at City
Look out City, Sparky's got a point to prove... Mancini must beware predecessor
One of the first phone calls Mark Hughes received after his sacking by Manchester City two-and-a-half years ago was from Sir Alex Ferguson.
The voicemail was short and to the point, expressing sympathy and suggesting Hughes was 'too good' for the club that had just humiliated him. Hughes is not overly emotional but he appreciated the gesture.
He had spent the previous two seasons locked in a tetchy fight with his former manager over territory in Manchester. But, with the rivalry ended by Hughes's culling, Ferguson remembered an old bond.
'Mark received lots of calls when he was sacked by City,' said a source close to Hughes this week. 'It's what happens when a manager loses his job.
'Ferguson was one of the first on the phone, though, and that did mean something. The rivalry had been pretty intense over the previous months.'
This weekend Hughes is back in town. This time the fight is more fundamental. A point at City's Etihad Stadium would almost certainly guarantee his QPR side Barclays Premier League safety.
Once again Ferguson has been vocal but this time his motives are different. Needing a slip-up by the modern City to allow his team back into the title race, the Manchester United manager has suggested Hughes will be driven by memories of his sacking by the City board, described by Fergie on Sunday as 'unethical'.
Suffice to say Hughes will have appreciated this message less than the one left at Christmas 2009.
Aged 48 now and a manager with 13 years' experience, Hughes does not need motivating by soundbites in the media from his former manager. Hughes has his own career and reputation to think about, not to mention the future of the club he joined after the sacking of Neil Warnock in January.
It would be wrong to suggest there isn't any residual bitterness over the way City dismissed him. Allowing him to stand on the touchline for a home game against Sunderland having already decided to sack him was wrong. There is also no love lost between Hughes and his replacement, Roberto Mancini.
Nevertheless, Hughes is driven by more pressing professional concerns. Having taken over at Loftus Road with more than half the season gone, his side have taken a creditable 20 points from 17 games but have yet to shake off 18th-placed Bolton, who are at Stoke on Sunday.
Despite persistent rumours he will be sacked if the London club go down, Hughes has been told by chairman Tony Fernandes his job is secure. Furthermore, he has been told Premier League survival will prompt heavy investment in players, and Hughes has already brought in trusted ally Mike Rigg from City to head up QPR's recruitment policy.
Against this backdrop, it is easy to see why this Sunday means so much and Djibril Cisse perhaps put his manager's feelings into context when asked about the weekend's game.
The scorer of his team's late winner against Stoke on Sunday said: 'Beating City would be sweet revenge for him but I don't think he is thinking about this. His main concern is to keep QPR up.'
Some familiar faces will confront Hughes in Manchester. The Welshman's buying policy during his time at City was far from flawless. Signing the likes of Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz were bad calls.
Nearly there: City need to beat QPR to clinch the Premier League title
Nevertheless, Hughes did find value in the shape of Vincent Kompany (£6million) and Pablo Zabaleta (£6.5m) - bought before the Abu Dhabi takeover - while City also have him to thank for the presence of Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Nigel de Jong and Carlos Tevez.
They all retain a sense of goodwill towards Hughes while the imperious Yaya Toure was also approached under the Hughes regime in December 2008 ahead of a transfer concluded by Mancini 18 months later.
City's more militant support believe Hughes was out of his depth at the club. We will never know, but Hughes heads to Manchester fuelled by thoughts of the future more than any regrets about the past
Manchester United & City target Hazard: I'll be wearing blue next season
The coveted Belgian forward, who is reported to be on the wishlist of top teams all over Europe, has hinted that he will opt for Roberto Mancini's side over the Red Devils
The Belgian has been linked with a number of Europe's top clubs, including City's rivals Manchester United, and has admitted that England is his most likely destination.
The 21-year-old was also spotted attending the crucial Manchester derby on April 30 with its two combatants amongst the favourites to land his signature.
When asked whether he prefers red or blue, Hazard told Canal+: "I like both. They're both nice colours. I think they both suit me."
But when pressed further, the Lille star revealed: "The blue, it's the blue that I'll be wearing next season. Definitely the blue."
Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini have been on scouting trips to see the Ligue 1 star and look set for a summer battle for his services, with Goal.com exclusively revealing that City are in pole position to secure the player's services.
Despite the Manchester clubs seemingly favourites to sign the coveted attacker, Tottenham and Chelsea have not given up hope on luring him to London.
However, much will depend on whether either club can attain Champions League football for the coming campaign.
Or ...
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini lines up Younes Belhanda as Eden Hazard talks falter
Roberto Mancini has identified Montpellier’s volatile midfielder, Younès Belhanda, as an alternative to leading target Eden Hazard amid concerns over the Lille player’s wage demands at Manchester City.
Belgian playmaker Hazard is Mancini’s leading summer target, with City moving ahead of neighbours Manchester United in the race to sign the £35 million-rated attacking midfielder.
But despite continuing attempts to secure an agreement with Hazard, who was a guest at the Etihad Stadium for last week's 1-0 victory against United, City have yet to strike a deal with the player and his advisers.
Although City’s ability to outspend United in both wages and transfer fees makes them favourites to sign Hazard, the Premier League leaders have no intention of sanctioning a deal that would earn the 21 year-old parity with the club’s £200,000-a-week top earners such as Yaya Toure and Carlos Tévez.
While Mancini remains determined to entice Hazard to City, Belhanda has emerged as a fall-back option should negotiations fail to make progress.
The Morocco international, who has led unfashionable Montpellier to the brink of their first French title, is suspended after being sent off following a brawl against Evian last week.
Belhanda, who clashed then with team-mate Olivier Giroud for failing to take a penalty in the 2-2 draw, faces a lengthy ban after an altercation with Evian’s Cedric Mongongu on the way back to the dressing room. The incident has prompted Belhanda to issue an apology via his Facebook page.
Despite his fiery nature, however, Mancini has been impressed by Belhanda’s contribution to Montpellier’s season and the player has been compared to former Arsenal and France midfielder Robert Pirès by his coach, René Girard.
Hazard remains Mancini’s favoured option, however, and his interest in Belhanda could be a tactic aimed at accelerating a deal for Hazard.
Lescott urges Manchester City fans not to get carried away
The former Everton defender has admitted winning the title would be "unreal", but knows Roberto Mancini's men must complete the job against QPR before they can celebrate
Manchester City centre-back Joleon Lescott says the club's fans must "keep a lid on" celebrations prior to Sunday's crucial clash with QPR.
Roberto Mancini's men will seal the Premier League title by virtue of goal difference with victory over the London side at Etihad Stadium.
And, whilst the former Everton defender is refusing to get carried away, he revealed his side's growing belief that they will seal the title.
Lescott told reporters: "It's a massive game at the weekend. It's not all over yet but, if we could close the title out, it would be unreal.
"You dream of these things. I never once thought: 'Yeah, I'm bound to win the Premier League.' But it was always in my mind. It will be crazy days if we win it. We've been nervous at times this season but we deserve to be up there.
"I'd say to our fans, keep a lid on it this week and let's not get carried away. If it happens on Sunday, they can celebrate then.
"It's in our hands but there's another vital game to go. When I first arrived here [from Everton in 2009] it was more hope that we could win the league rather than real belief.
"But we've developed and got more players and are all starting to really believe. It's developed over a period of time. It's been a growing feeling."
Former City boss Mark Hughes will return to Manchester hoping to become the first manager to win at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League this season.
And Lescott had nothing but kind words for the Welshman, who signed him for a fee believed to be in the region of £22 million in 2009.
"There's a bit of irony in that it's him [Hughes] we're up against," said Lescott. "Mark Hughes was a great boss and he was very good to me."
Manchester United had held an eight-point lead at the top at the start of April, just as City's defeat at Arsenal seemingly handed the title to the Red Devils.
However, five successive victories - including a home win over Sir Alex Ferguson's side - coupled with the Red Devils' uncharacteristic drop in form has put the blue half of Manchester in control.
"It would have been crazy to have given it up after Arsenal," said Lescott. "That would have been silly. There was no chance of that happening. It would have been criminal.
"I don't think there was any way that could happen here because of the attitudes of the players. At this level of our careers we are not going to just give up when we get close to something like this. The lads I play with have a never-say-die attitude."
Lescott's team-mate Yaya Toure has been key for City since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, and his two goals against Newcastle put the title within his side's grasp.
The Ivorian midefielder said: "Always I have said this club can go far, this club can win something. Last year we won the FA Cup and we have to continue like that and next week try to win the game against QPR.
"We know it's going to be tough but I believe in this team, I believe in the players we have. We have some fantastic players.
"I have always said I came to this club to make history even if some people said I came for different things. I am going to keep telling them I came to this club to make history and that is my first objective, to help make the club into a successful football club."
Manchester City's players have been promised £250,000 each if they land the Premier League title.Full story: Daily Star ... Whores
[spoiler]Layla Kayleigh
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal are keen to make the first move for Fulham striker Clint Dempsey, who is also wanted by Liverpool. The Sun
Tottenham target Loic Remy, the 25-year-old Marseille striker, says he wants to remain with the French club but admits that their financial situation may lead to him being sold.Metro
Spurs could also be set to add to their defensive ranks with a move for Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen. Daily Mail
However Manchester United could scupper Tottenham's plans with their own move for the Dutchman. Daily Mirror
Porto's 25-year-old £25m-rated midfielder Joao Moutinho, who has been monitored by Chelsea, has admitted he would consider a move to the Premier League.
Full story: talkSPORT
If they secure their Premier League status next weekend, QPR are planning a £7m move for Wigan winger Victor Moses. Daily Mirror
Chelsea target Caballero, a 17-year-old striker with Paraguay side Libertad, is also wanted by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. talkSHIT
Highly-rated 17-year-old Peruvian striker Andy Polo, thought to have been considered by Arsenal, has opted to join Italian side Genoa in a deal worth around £4m. talkSHIT
Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has rejected a second approach from Chelsea, despite the offer of £12m-a-year and a huge transfer treasure chest. Daily Mirror
Wolves have denied reports that Darren Ferguson will become the club's new manager, after some bookmakers stopped taking bets on the Peterborough boss taking over at Molineux. Express and Star
Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar has hinted on Twitter that he will be leaving the club. Birmingham Mail
Arsenal have unveiled their new kit in a humorous video, which features star striker Robin van Persie, and shows goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny apparently kicking a ball onto the roof of Arsene Wenger's car.Metro
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