ROUND-UP
There’s the build-up, preparation and planning and then there is the opening night when nobody dare fluff their lines.
Then there is pleasing the critics…
OK, enough with the theatrical similarities but there was an artistic slant to City’s 3-0 win in Plzen last night and there are plenty of interesting reviews concerning Manuel Pellegrini’s first European adventure as City boss.
Plzen, it transpires, was the original home of Skoda and for some of the talented scribes that follow the Blues home and away, the opportunity to weave that fact in was too good to miss.
The Daily Telegraph’s Mark Ogden seamlessly worked in the car angle in his entertaining match report, writing: “So Manchester City did not follow their usual Champions League script after all.
“In the birthplace of Skoda, for so long the butt of jokes about unreliable motors, Manuel Pellegrini’s team avoided another stalled start to a European campaign by cruising to victory against Viktoria Plzen.
“However, after two years of performing like a high-powered engine running on the wrong fuel in Europe, goals from Edin Dzeko, Yaya Touré and Sergio Agüero secured City’s first away victory in this competition since an equally emphatic success against Villarreal in November 2011.”
I count five car connections there – nice work, Mr Ogden who, we must assume, enjoys a bit of garage music between matches.
The question was: could anyone do better? The Sun’s Martin Blackburn, never one to shirk a challenge, responded with: “Manuel Pellegrini took Manchester City to the home of Skoda - and finally got them motoring in Europe.
“Despite their rapid rise to the top of the Premier League, the Blues’ progress had stalled in the Champions League over the past couple of years. But the brakes are now off…”
Not a bad effort. If we’d have lost, presumably there would plenty of references to wheels coming off... I’ll get my coat.
Finally, The Independent’s Ian Herbert picks up on the new City cup kit being showcased for the first time – though things didn’t quite go to plan. He explains: “Manchester City had wanted to undertake what they call a ‘full reveal’ tonight – marketing speak for displaying the team’s new third-choice strip at the moment the players peeled off their tracksuit jackets to get down to work.
“Except that Uefa did not let them show off as much as they would liked: only the new shirts got an airing because the blue shorts would have clashed with the opposition.
“The important stuff went on full show, though. There were no impediments to City revealing the football which they believe can take them to places in Europe that Roberto Mancini never reached.
“The way they were rolling around the ball almost casually by the end – the magisterial Sergio Aguero might have had four – should not diminish the instantaneous impression made by Manuel Pellegrini, whose Midas touch in Europe was so much of an attraction when City hired him.”
Now City are all set for Manchester derby
Victory over Viktoria Plzen gives Manchester City confidence, says Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester City got their latest Champions League challenge off to a winning start with a convincing 3-0 win over Czech minnows Viktoria Plzen.
Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and the outstanding Sergio Aguero all struck in the space of 10 minutes early in the second half as City overpowered their first Group D opponents at the Doosan Arena.
City were not at their most fluid before the break but still went close as Aguero struck the post and Dzeko and Jesus Navas brought good saves out of Matus Kozacik.
The win means City, bidding to reach the knockout stages for the first time after two successive failures, have already equalled their points tally from last season's dismal campaign.
It also lifts confidence after a mixed start in the Barclays Premier League and ahead of next Sunday's derby against rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: "I think it is very important to start the Champions League winning away.
"It was not an easy match, against a very good team. Winning 3-0, of course we are very happy.
"It will give confidence for all the players.
"We have the derby next Sunday and always winning away in the Champions League, scoring three goals, having at least three or four more chances to score and a clean sheet - I think it will give all the players a lot of confidence for the next games."
Dzeko, who was denied at point-blank range by Kozacik in the first half, opened the scoring after being set up by Aguero in the 48th minute.
Toure doubled the lead with a superb strike from distance and Aguero added the third after a smart turn and shot from the edge of the area.
Dzeko said: "Our quality was better in the second half, but Plzen also played some good stuff in the first half.
"We had chances and didn't score, but then the goals came.
"The manager told us to keep playing our football and be organised, to concentrate and be aggressive, and that the goals would come. They came."
City, unconvincing in their most recent games, also looked better for the return of captain Vincent Kompany at the back after a three-game absence with a groin injury.
Right-back Pablo Zabaleta said: "It was a good performance by the team.
"We played well, especially in the second half when we came up with some good football.
"Having Vincent back was good. He is the captain and leader of the team, and it's always good to have him in the team.
Pellegrini is also hopeful playmaker David Silva will be fit to return for the derby after two games out with a thigh injury.
The Spaniard will be assessed later this week, as will defender Gael Clichy, who has been out with hamstring trouble.
Pellegrini said: "Maybe they could arrive for the derby. We will see during the week. I think Clichy is more difficult but we will still try."
Vincent Kompany fully fit for [strike]Manchester[/strike] derby
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is fully fit ahead of the club's clash with Manchester United this weekend, according to manager Manuel Pellegrini.
The Belgian has been absent since their clash on the opening day of the season against Newcastle United for City, having picked up a groin injury.
However, the 27-year-old made his return and started for the club during their 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Pellegrini feels that Kompany has no physical issues heading into the Manchester derby.
"Vincent has worked very well in last few days, I had some doubt in last the last 10 minutes to change him but I saw he was playing without fear so he will arrive without a problem," Pellegrini told Sky Sports News.
City host United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 18-9-2011
City take an early two goal lead against Fulham but the hosts rally after the break and the Blues are forced to settle for a 2-2 draw. Sergio Aguero scores twice but goals from Bobby Zamora and a Vincent Kompany own goal in the second half mean that City drop their first points of the season.
Touré content with ideal start for City
Manchester City FC registered their first matchday one win in three attempts with a 3-0 victory away to FC Viktoria Plzeň, an "ideal start" according to goalscorer Yaya Touré.
Yaya Touré told UEFA.com Manchester City FC had made the ideal start to the UEFA Champions League after picking up their first opening-night triumph at the third time of asking.
The Ivory Coast international scored a sublime second as City claimed a 3-0 victory at FC Viktoria Plzeň to register their first win in an opening group stage fixture in three attempts. While visiting captain Vincent Kompany was equally content to have left the Czech Republic with three points, Plzeň midfielder Tomáš Hořava rued the fact "our minds stayed in the dressing room" during the early stages of the second half in which the game was torn away from the hosts.
Matúš Kozáčik, Plzeň goalkeeper
We held them up in the first half, but we can have some regrets about the second half, particularly the way we started it. We conceded two goals in quick succession and the match was decided. City proved to be of a much higher level in comparison to the opponents we have played against so far in this season. We felt that they have some of the best players in the world.
We survived a few good chances in the first half and I thought we might prevent them from scoring for much longer, but it was not so. Such teams always punish every mistake, especially when they are so strong on the counterattack. It was a shame we did not take one of our chances we worked so hard to create.
Tomáš Hořava, Plzeň midfielder
It was a good scoreline for us at half-time, but you have to admit that we were lucky that Manchester City didn't score some of their chances. It seemed to me that our minds stayed in the dressing room as we conceded three goals within ten minutes and the match was over.
I believe that if we had kept the clean sheet for 15 or 20 minutes longer, Manchester City – as the favourites – could have become a bit nervous, but we failed to achieve this. They showed us their great quality, which was especially seen in their second and third goal; they did it unbelievably well. They were very strong on the ball, it was difficult to take it from them. But we could have played a better match if we had fought more and been more compact.
Yaya Touré, Manchester City midfielder
It was a good start after so many years. The Champions League is a very, very difficult competition especially away from home. For us it was important to start well, take three points, even though we knew it was a tough team. After the first half we were a little frustrated as we'd missed some chances, and we started to doubt, but it went well in the second half.
The difference was made by us being compact, trying to win the ball back high up the pitch as Agüero did on the counterattack. He passed to [Edin] Džeko, who cold-bloodedly slipped the ball inside the post. It was magnificent, and that opened up the game.
We have had some great players come in. We've worked hard with the new coach. The competition is very difficult, but we want to go far in the Champions League and to make a superb challenge for the other competitions we're in. It's going to be very difficult though. The most important thing for us is to do well and impress.
The game against Bayern is the most important one. We're at home, and it's the most important thing for us to take three points against the champions. I think it'll be a great game, and we'll see our level of play. It'll be an open game as we won't defend and Bayern won't either with the coach they have, Guardiola. It'll be a super game, and we're all excited at the prospect of playing in that match.
Vincent Kompany, Manchester City FC defender
A good start, a super match and the result that we needed. There was a bit of frustration perhaps as we didn't take our chances in the first half, but everyone was calm at half-time. We knew that we still had 45 minutes to push on, and we just had to score the chances we had. We'd already had some good opportunities in the first half, and we did the same in the second. We scored, and that opened up the game.
It's an important game against Bayern, but we know that if we want to qualify, the most important matches will be those against Plzeň and CSKA Moscow. If we win our meetings with them, we know we'll qualify, but playing against the European champions, there's nothing better than that.
Manchester City are set to reignite their interest in Real Madrid defender Pepe.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini was left stunned by City’s 3-2 loss to newly-promoted Cardiff City on Sunday, in which he was forced to play midfielder Javi Garcia in central defence following Vincent Kompany’s injury.
The loss has forced the Chilean’s hand and he is now set to splash even more cash in the transfer market.
Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic have already arrived at the Etihad for a combined £90 million, and a deal for Pepe would cost in the region of £20m.
Should a bid of that region be tabled, Real would not stand in the way of the Portuguese’s exit – as they are well aware of their need to balance the books.
A world-record deal for Gareth Bale is believed to be imminent, and the Spanish giants are keen to clear the decks for the Welshman’s potential arrival.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 18-9-1979
City travel to Poland to play a friendly against Legia Warsaw and lose 2-1 in front of 40,000 people, most of whom had turned out to see former skipper and club legend Kaziu Deyna who had scored 96 goals in 300 matches for the Poles.
Deyna plays a half for each side and scores for both teams, too on an emotional evening Warsaw.
Albert Rusnak returns from Oldham loan spell early
Albert Rusnak has returned to Manchester City after Oldham Athletic elected to end his loan spell early.
The Slovakia-born midfielder, 19, was due to remain at Boundary Park until 5 January but has departed after just three outings for the League One side.
Rusnak, who made one start for the Latics in the Football League Trophy, is back in City's development squad.
Oldham, who have lost their last three league games, are 15th in the table with six points from seven matches.
Man City keeping tabs on Udinese starlet
Manuel Pellegrini is ramping up his scouting ahead of the January transfer window and Piotr Zielinski has come to his attention.
Just 19, the Udinese man already has three goals in five appearances for Poland's senior side, having first featured for the Under-15s.
Udinese offered the player senior terms in 2012 and since then, clubs have tracked him.
City are among those interested and could make a move for him in January.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 18-9-1968
Defending Division One champions City go into their first European Cup match against Turkish champions Fenerbahce in the middle of an awful run in the league which had seen them win just one of their opening nine games.
That, plus Malcolm Allison’s pre-match claim that City would “terrify Europe” seemed to affect the Blues and the naivety and inexperience showed in a tough first leg that ends 0-0 at Maine Road in front of almost 40,000 fans.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Liverpool and Galatasaray will move for Anzhi Makhachkala's Ivory Coast striker Lacina Traore, 23, in January. Daily Express
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he was reluctant to re-sign Mathieu Flamini, 29, after the way the midfielder left the club back in 2008. Metro
Aston Villa will return with another offer for Kuban Krasnodar's Bulgaria midfielder Ivelin Popov, 25, in the next transfer window. Daily Express
Birmingham want to sign Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard, 20, on loan. DSSC
Sevilla supporters have devised a plan to try to make on-loan Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin, 24, stay in Spain permanently. Daily Mirror
Manchester United have written to fans who have expressed concerns over new manager David Moyes and his transfer policy. Daily Mirror
New West Brom striker Stephane Sessegnon is set to make his Baggies debut against former club Sunderland on Saturday once he receives a work permit. Black Cats manager Paolo Di Canio questioned the attitude of the Benin international, 29, after allowing him to leave on deadline day. Daily Telegraph
Fabio Borini made a mistake when he joined Liverpool from Roma last year, according to his agent. The Italy striker, 22, has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan deal. Daily Star
Striker Jermain Defoe, 30, has admitted that his chances of going to next year's World Cup with England will be hampered if he continues to be denied first-team football at Tottenham. Daily Express
Tottenham's Andros Townsend, who was named in the England squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine, has described his loan spell at QPR playing under Harry Redknapp last season as "massive". Daily Mirror
One Direction's management are putting pressure on 21-year-old Louis Tomlinson to hang up his boots at Doncaster Rovers after discovering their insurance premiums will rocket if he pursues his football career at the club. Daily Star
FC Groningen defender Timo Letschert did not take his second dismissal in as many games too well, appearing to faint on the pitch following the red card after just 10 minutes of his side's Dutch league match with Heerenveen. Metro
DERBY BOLLOX FROM THE PAST
A four-man Manchester City defensive wall preparing to face a free kick in a derby clash with United at Old Trafford in 1970. From left to right: Arthur Mann, Alan Oakes, Colin Bell, and Mike Summerbee. City won 2-1 against their neighbours. In five meetings with United that season, City emerged victorious on three occasions
