Praise for Edin Dzeko spills over into another day’s media round-up as the Blues prepare for their crunch Champions League tie in Amsterdam.
According to The Sun the Bosnian star, who rescued City with two late goals against West Brom on Saturday, is itching to start against Ajax on Wednesday night.
“Edin Dzeko wants the chance to save Manchester City’s Champions League skins on Wednesday,” claims the paper’s Martin Blackburn.
“Roberto Mancini’s men must win at Dutch giants Ajax to retain genuine hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
“And Dzeko is City’s most in-form striker after his two late goals at West Brom on Saturday earned a vital win.
“The Bosnian wants to start but has Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli in his way.”
The paper also quotes the striker in his own words: “Everybody wants to start games but we will see,” said Dzeko.
“It’s up to the manager to pick the team but he knows I am there whenever he needs me. But I want to play.
“It’s important we win. Yes, it’s a vital game.”
In other news this morning, The Daily Mail claims City’s Wayne Bridge is enjoying his football so much on the south coast that he wants to make the move permanent.
“The former England international is loving the feeling of actually playing football and he wants to sign on the dotted line with Gus Poyet's Seagulls,” writes the paper’s Alex Hankin.
“Bridge, who had a loan spell at Sunderland last season, has made five appearances for Brighton so far this campaign and scored two goals.”
Bridge said: "I am enjoying every day. To know you are going to run out on the pitch on a Saturday is a big plus."
Finally, Roma’s General Manager has dismissed any notion that alleged Blues target Daniele De Rossi could be on his way to the Etihad in January.
“Rumours during the summer transfer window linked Manchester City with a move for the 29-year-old, before the player himself released a statement pledging his loyalty to the club, with those sentiments echoed by the capital club's general manager,” reports Goal.com.
“Franco Baldini has dismissed suggestions Roma will sell De Rossi and says he expects the midfielder to be with the club "in the future." Official MCFC.co.uk Bollox Round-up
Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge wants to make his loan move to Brighton permanent at the end of the season.
Former England international is loving the feeling of actually playing football... and he wants to sign on the dotted line with Gus Poyet's Seagulls
Ex-Chelsea and Southampton left-back Bridge, 32, has starred for Gus Poyet's side so far this season and he is enjoying his football again after a torrid time at City.
Former England international Bridge said: "I am enjoying every day. To know you are going to run out on the pitch on a Saturday is a big plus."
Bridge, who had a loan spell at Sunderland last season, has made five appearances for the Seagulls this campaign and scored two goals.
Mock the Weekend: Who stole Vincent Kompany's mojo?
As the Manchester City captain's latest error against West Brom confirms, there hasn't been a defender in a faster downward spiral since Titus Bramble fell down some jaunty stairs
So what on earth has happened to him?
Thus far in 2012-13, the Manchester City captain has been wobblier than a Jenga tower on a water-bed. No longer titanic; more of a wooden raft. The Kompany has gone bust.
Against Real Madrid, the defender shied away from Cristiano Ronaldo's last-minute shot like it was covered in slime. He was sluggish against Dortmund. Brushed off by renowned battering ram Peter Crouch for Stoke City to score.
And on Saturday the City stalwart dunked his team in the inkwell of uncertainty when his awful positioning essentially forced James Milner to get sent off in order to stop Shane Long. He might as well have just walked up and red-carded his team-mate himself.
Only West Brom's total failure to bother defending a 1-1 draw with the league champions in the final moments stopped Kompany from costing his side some valuable points.
Where, then, has the Belgian beast's mojo gone? Were the City squad's post-title celebrations in May so raucous and unhinged that he heaved it all over the floor on the next morning? Has the arrival of Spanish proto-Clooney Javi Garcia driven him to distraction with feelings of manly inadequacy? Because if so, Vincent, you are not alone.
Please, dear reader: If you have any information on the whereabouts of Vincent Kompany's mojo, please call the helpline on 0700-DEFENCE. His friends and family are worried sick.
Mario Balotelli WEDDING coming soon
Sorry if this is a shock Mario but that girl you made pregnant is trying on wedding dresses now.
Italian Model Rafaella Fico, 24, has been credited with taming fiery Premier League striker Mario Balotelli, 22. And The People's exclusive pictures suggest she is on course to turn their once stormy relationship into cosy married life.
Rafaella spent hours trying on frocks and veils at the bridal store in her home town of Naples.
She looked ecstatic as she posed in this ivory-coloured lacy dress - happy to be photographed while seven months pregnant.
The Manchester City star was 140 miles away in Rome with the Italian national side last week.
Rafaella dumped Mario over his persistent womanising in April, later learning she was pregnant.
He demanded DNA tests to resolve paternity but apologised for that as they became reconciled last month.
A Christmas baby then a wedding, eh Mario. Awwwww!
Manchester City boosted by possible return of Silva for Ajax clash
The Spain international is recovering from a hamstring injury but could make his comeback sooner than expected as Roberto Mancini's team prepare for the Champions League fixture
City manager Roberto Mancini had originally targeted the club's next Premier League match against Swansea City for the Spain international's comeback but assistant Brian Kidd has revealed that he could play even sooner.
Silva will undergo treatment on his hamstring problem on Monday ahead of the match against the Dutch champions in Amsterdam. He sustained the injury while playing for his country against France during last week's international break.
"We're having a roll call today, with scans and everything," Kidd told the Manchester Evening News. "With David Silva in particular, we don't know how long he will be out for.
"I think they are looking at him thinking he might be in with a chance of playing on Wednesday against Ajax. With a couple of days for it to settle down, we will get a better picture."
Defender Maicon and midfielder Javi Garcia are also fitness doubts for the club's third group stage contest of the season but Kidd hopes that the duo's recovery can be stepped up this week.
"Javi Garcia and Maicon are there or thereabouts," he added. "They have done a little bit of training but haven't done everything yet - they are back in today and we are hoping the next couple days will bring them on."
CHUMPS LEAGUE BOLLOX
Manchester City facing Champions League exit
Fresh off a first English league title in 44 years, Manchester City was supposed to make its presence felt among Europe's elite this season with its expensively assembled squad.
A slip-up in the Champions League this week, however, will leave the English club facing the prospect of another campaign in the Europa League - or worse, dropping out of Europe altogether.
Of the continent's top sides, City is under the most pressure heading into the third round of group-stage matches in the Champions League.
With just one point from two matches so far, failing to beat Ajax on Wednesday could leave City with too much to do to qualify from a tough Group D that also contains Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
City also failed to progress from the group stage last season, although that was put down to a lack of experience at this level.
Much more is expected this time.
"I don't know if it is a learning curve - we are in with the big boys now, there is no place to hide," City goalkeeper Joe Hart says. "There is no point learning if you are not going to win. We need one big game against Ajax next."
There are no such concerns for competition heavyweights Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal, who are all looking for their third straight group wins.
As is BATE Borisov, the Belarusian team that inflicted a shock 3-1 loss on last season's runner-up Bayern Munich last time out and next hosts Valencia in Group F.
Bayern visits bottom-place Lille and will look to transfer its domestic form to the Champions League after becoming the first side to start a Bundesliga campaign with eight wins.
"We have to keep it up and ... be ready for Lille," Bayern winger Franck Ribery says.
Malaga, which is making its debut in the competition, and FC Porto are the other two teams to have made 100-percent starts in the competition.
The group involving City and Madrid has been given top billing this season, but while the English champions have struggled to get going, their Spanish counterparts have been in fine form and scored seven goals already.
However, Jose Mourinho's team heads into its tough away match at Dortmund with defensive problems because of injuries to fullbacks Marcelo, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Coentrao. Michael Essien, a central midfielder, was forced to fill in at left back in the 2-0 win over Celta Vigo.
"We are missing players, but all of us in the squad can play in various positions and that is what we are doing," says Madrid forward Jose Callejon.
"We have had to relocate players, but it has been well done."
Dortmund will be without Jakub Blaszczykowski (left knee) and has doubts over the fitness of Germany midfielders Mario Goetze (thigh) and Ilkay Guendogan (spine) as it looks to rebound from Saturday's 2-1 derby loss to Schalke, which left the champions already 12 points behind Bayern.
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
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[/spoiler]AC Milan’s Robinho: Boom or Bust?
From an early age, AC Milan’s Robinho had the weight of expectations firmly placed on his shoulders.
As a 15-year old, Pele selected the youngster as his successor at Brazilian club Santos. The teenager didn’t disappoint as he led the club to a Brazilian Serie A title three years later the age of 18. The diminutive Brazilian matched the feat two years later as Santos won the title again.
In 2005, Robinho’s future looked bright when he moved to Real Madrid at the age of 21. Despite playing over 120 times for Madrid, the striker left many fans wanting more from a player labeled the next big thing.
It was Madrid’s desire to sign then-Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, that led to Robinho’s departure from the club.
A stop at Manchester City as the first big signing by the Abu Dhabi Group was followed by a loan back to Santos in Brazil. There he found success yet again as he helped the club win a State Championship and Brazilian Cup.
Robinho scored 10 goals in 2011-12 in Serie A.
Robinho was signed by the Milan for $23.6 million in August 2010. His signature came a mere three days after Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic put pen to paper.
In all, Milan shelled out nearly $55 million for the strike pair – however, Ibrahimovic’s initial move was only a loan deal from Barcelona and was not made permanent until a year later.
Currently, the Brazilian is in his third year of a four year deal with the Rossoneri. During his time with the club, like in Madrid and Manchester City, Robinho has polarized opinion amongst many of the club’s supporters.
In 90 matches for Milan, the Brazilian has had his ups and downs. His 25 goals and 15 assists over that time have been a big part of Milan’s attack, and to some justifies his price tag.
He and Ibrahimovic gelled well together, unlike Alexandre Pato and Ibrahimovic, giving the Rossoneri one of the most feared attacks in Serie A. The two combined for 36 goals in Milan’s Scudetto winning season of 2010-11 and 44 goals in 2011-12.
Milan no longer have the most feared attack in calcio.
Yet, many supporters turn to Robinho’s lack of finishing and inability to step-up in big games as his major drawbacks.
In last season’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Barcelona, Robinho had the opportunity to put Milan up early, only to send his shot over the crossbar.
There’s no doubt an early Milan goal would have changed the complexion of the tie. The Brazilian matched that shot in the second-leg when he was unable to fully connect with a pointblank volley.
Robinho’s injury record at the club has also been quite poor – though not along the lines of Pato – and the Brazilian has only featured four times this season. This week it was announced he will miss another 10 days with a thigh injury, leaving Milan even thinner in regards to creativity.
With Milan cutting the wage bill last summer and Santos’ continued admiration for the striker, it was a surprise Robinho didn’t make the return to Brazil during the mercato. However, with just over a year and a half left on his current deal, Robinho’s Milan exit mustn’t be too far off.
To some, Robinho’s legacy may be like that of numerous other players around the world: Great in his homeland, but unable to live up to the hype and expectations elsewhere. Still others will celebrate the player, who won two league titles in Spain and a Scudetto in Italy.
Like many Brazilians, Robinho looks destined for a lucrative deal in Brazil thanks to the country’s financial growth. But regardless of where he goes next, Robinho is sure to divide opinion of supporters.
Chris Kirkland attack: Man charged with assault
Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland received treatment after being knocked down
A 21-year-old man has been charged with assault and entering the field of play after a goalkeeper was attacked during a Championship football match.
Sheffield Wednesday's Chris Kirkland, 31, required treatment after being struck in the face during the game against Leeds United.
A man ran on to the pitch after Leeds had equalised in the game on Friday.
Aaron Cawley, of Blenheim, Cheltenham, is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court on Monday
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 28, is ready to quit White Hart Lane just two months after arriving on a permanent deal from Manchester City for £5m. Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... bered.html
Atletico Madrid want to sign Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, 24, in January if they sell Colombia forward Falcao - possibly to Manchester City or Chelsea. Metro
Arsenal defender Andre Santos, 29, could be on his way back to Turkey, despite only arriving at Emirates Stadium last year from Fenerbahce in a £6.2m deal. Daily Mirror
Birmingham City boss Lee Clark has compared midfielder Ravel Morrison to Paul Gascoigne after the controversial 19-year-old's starring appearance against Leicester while on loan from West Ham. Birmingham Mail
Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong, 26, has described Saturday's 1-0 win over Arsenal as "perfect". Eastern Daily Press
Juan Mata, 24, insists being overlooked for the latest Spain squad will only inspire him to do better for Chelsea. Evening Standard
Arsene Wenger admits his Arsenal side suffered a "shock to the system" when they lost to Norwich but he expects them to bounce back against Schalke on Wednesday. Evening Standard
Alan Pardew is confident his Newcastle side can rediscover their impressive form of last season after a series of below-par performances. talkSHIT
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo is refusing to get carried away with his team's impressive start to the season, warning "there are moments when we are going to be tested". talkSHIT
Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor believes the protests against the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign are "misguided". Express and Star
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt, 37, has returned to Old Trafford as a youth coach. DSSC
