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Premier League: Manchester City's Samir Nasri enjoys 'a little revenge' against United
Samir Nasri admits he enjoyed "a little revenge" as he helped Manchester City to a 4-1 derby victory over United on Sunday.
Nasri scored City's fourth goal in their emphatic triumph over the reigning Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium.
It was a far cry from last season's equivalent fixture in December, when Nasri turned away from Robin van Persie's injury-time free-kick and diverted the Dutchman's shot past his own goalkeeper Joe Hart, sealing a 3-2 win for the visitors.
"It's a different feeling from last year, and a different feeling for me as well," said Nasri.
"Last year I was involved in the third goal in a bad way, so this was a little revenge. I just want to share this moment with our fans.
"Last year was a little bit sad because we were losing 2-0 and came back, but in the last minute Robin scored that free-kick.
"This year it was not the same scenario, and we are very happy."
Statement made
The France midfielder has made an impressive start to the season under new Manuel Pellegrini, having also been on target in the opening-weekend win over Newcastle.
The 26-year-old believes the manner and size of City's victory on Sunday is "a big statement" to the rest of the division.
"We have sent a message to our rivals that this year we can be a force. To win like that is always special," he added.
"We showed what good players we have in our team because we put in a very good performance."
"It was important to win this game, for ourselves as well as for the fans, because Arsenal won as well, and moved to 12 points."
Nasri believes the professional approach City took to their Champions League opener away to Viktoria Plzen last week set them up perfectly for the derby.
"We won our first game in the Champions League, which gave us confidence and we have trained really well," said Nasri.
"When you arrive at the game you have confidence, because you know what you can do.
"It was exactly that kind of game. We played our own kind of game, and won 4-1.
"At Stoke, it was difficult because we came back from being with our national teams for 10 days, and had players who had travelled all over the world, so when you come back you are not really fresh.
"But the win in Plzen made us really confident, and we did exactly what we had prepared for in the week."
After City's Capital One Cup tie with Wigan on Tuesday night, they travel to face Aston Villa in the league before then entertaining European champions Bayern Munich next Wednesday.
Lopes ready as City kids get League Cup chance
The 18-year-old Portuguese starlet made a dramatic impact in the FA Cup last season, netting against Watford to become the youngest goalscorer in the Blues’ history
Young gun Marcos Lopes is set to get another first-team chance for City as they begin their Capital One Cup campaign at home to Wigan tonight.
The 18-year-old Portuguese starlet made a dramatic impact in the FA Cup last season, netting against Watford to become the youngest goalscorer in the Blues’ history. That remains his only appearance, but Lopes is set to step up again as manager Manuel Pellegrini rings the changes from the side that beat United 4-1 on Sunday.
There is also a chance that 18-year-old left-back Greg Leigh, from Sale, will be in the squad, with Gael Clichy unlikely to be risked.
Leigh caught the eye last season as a pacy full-back, earning his first England under-19 cap – both he and Lopes were left out of City’s elite development squad fixture against Liverpool last night.
Jack Rodwell is set to return after being left out of the derby squad with a ‘twinge’ he felt in training, with Pellegrini expected to field an entirely new team. Micah Richards should return after injury, while Costel Pantilimon, Dedryck Boyata, Joleon Lescott, Javi Garcia, James Milner, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko are all in line for starts.
With Lopes and Leigh absent, the Blues youngsters fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool last night.
The visitors went ahead on 25 minutes through a wonder strike from Adam Morgan and Cameron Branagan fired their second with 20 minutes to go.
The Blues came close through Jordi Hiwula’s header and a cross from Albert Rusnak – back after his loan to Oldham was cut short – which fizzed past the post.
City did give an EDS debut to Spanish defender Angelino, who impressed in the UEFA Youth League win over Plzen last week.
Manchester City target Pecks valued at £8million by Gil Vicente chief
Newcastle, Manchester City and Tottenham have been told they will have to pay £8m for Gil Vicente defender Pecks.
Gil Vicente president Antonio Fiusa says the Cape Verde international has a buy-out clause and added: “The player has a contract until 2017 and we do not have to sell at an inferior price."
City boss Manuel Pellegrinihad been linked with the 20-year-old tough-tackling centre-back after he broke through to the Portuguese side's first team, whose full name is Pericles Santos Pereira.
Aguero: We won't get carried away
Sergio Aguero is not getting carried away with Manchester City's stunning derby victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
Argentina striker Aguero struck twice as City hammered their rivals 4-1 in their Premier League meeting at the Etihad Stadium.
The emphatic nature of the win over the champions clearly signalled City's title ambitions under Manuel Pellegrini but Aguero knows there is much more hard work ahead.
Aguero said: "We will keep our feet on the ground - the manager won't let us put our hands down anyway - and keep on battling.
"It's important to keep going. There are a lot of teams capable of winning the championship, but we are going to do everything we can to be the team that wins it.
"I'm very happy for the victory and the three points. We are near the top and we want to be at the top.
"I like scoring against United, it's enjoyable, but the most important thing is to win the matches and that's all I think about."
In terms of sending out a message, City's win has been compared to their 6-1 thrashing of United at Old Trafford two years ago.
They went on to win the title the following May but Aguero is not reading too much into that.
The 25-year-old, who was also on target in that famous win of October 2011, said: "It's difficult to compare with the 6-1, this one has different players, but the important thing is to win and it doesn't matter if it is by four, five or six goals.
"We won, we scored and are winning the matches, that's the important thing."
City make a quick return to action as Wigan, their conquerors in last season's FA Cup final, visit in the third round of the Capital One Cup tonight.
Much has changed since the Wembley clash in May with both clubs having changed managers and City spending more than £90million on new players, while Wigan were relegated to the Championship.
City are likely to make changes with defender Micah Richards, who has missed the start of the season with hamstring trouble, among those likely to come in.
Richards did not play in the cup final but sees the latest tie as an opportunity to put its memory firmly in the past.
The 25-year-old told the club's website, http://www.mcfc.co.uk: "I wasn't involved against Wigan, but there was definitely something lacking.
"Wigan have always played us well and have been a bit of a bogey team, but I would never say the guys weren't up for it because we always want to win, but I just felt they wanted it more on the day.
"That game is in the past now but we have to make sure we put things right in this game and try and progress in the competition."
Bayern Munich should help Manchester City meet Financial Fair Play targets
Love is in the air between Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
When their eyes first met over a crowded balance-sheet two years ago, the mood was tense.
Their Champions League date at the Etihad was marred by bickering over Financial Fair Play.
City bridled at Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s demand for Uefa to impose “strict penalties” on them for over-spending. Roberto Mancini even threatened to go looking for Bayern’s chairman.
Bayern are back in town next week and harmony now rules. City are proudly staging “an evening with [CEO] Ferran Soriano and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, discussing the business of elite European football’’.
With tickets starting “at £275 (plus VAT) and VIP tables and sponsorship packages available”, the dinner should generate a few quid towards City’s in-house FFP targets – thanks to their distinguished guest.
Perhaps between courses they could take Rummenigge over the road to peer over some builders’ hoardings. Dust is in the air as City’s FFP-friendly Campus takes wonderful shape.
Introducing Manchester City's Spectacular New Training Complex
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Since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover of Manchester City back in 2008, much has been made about the amount of money spent on players. Mark Hughes was given £200 million during his 18 months in charge, and Roberto Mancini had a further £285 million. City won the FA Cup and the league title, but it came at a price.
Less is made, however, about City’s investment in their new training complex—a £100 million-plus state-of-the-art construction that will house both youth and first team football. The Etihad Campus, which is being built adjacent to the Etihad Stadium, will see every level of the club catered for in one unique 80 acre site.
The academy element of the complex will accommodate 400 young players, with classroom facilities for 200. Twelve of the 16.5 pitches will be designed for players between the ages of 8-21, and there’s even accommodation available to City’s most promising young players. City are desperate to become a financially self-sufficient football club, and producing their own talent is at the top of their list of targets aimed at achieving that goal.
There will be a 7000-seat stadium built on site, meaning the youth teams will have a first-class home ground for years to come. Young players learning their trade at the Etihad will be getting everything they need to develop their skills and carve out a career in the game.
The first team will be leaving their Carrington training base and moving to the Etihad Campus. A brand new gym and rehab centre is apart of the plans and is set to be the envy of clubs across Europe. Not only will this provide City’s players with everything they need to stay fit and healthy, but it will be a huge selling point when negotiating with potential new signings.
Even City’s clerical and media teams will be based on site, with new offices and a dedicated media centre set to be built. The entire club will now have a brand new, top-of-the-range facility to work from.
The new complex will not only revolutionise the club, but it will also bring jobs and prosperity to a struggling area of Manchester. City pledged to ensure that more than 90 percent of the materials used to build the Etihad Campus were sourced locally, with recruitment from the local area also high on City’s agenda.
The impact of the Etihad Campus may not be obvious for many years to come, but what’s clear is that City’s owners are absolutely dedicated to ensuring the club has a successful future ahead of it.
Liverpool youngster scores a 45-yard wonder goal against Manchester City
Liverpool player Adam Morgan may never score a better goal in his career after hitting the net with a 45-yard effort for Liverpool U-21’s last night.
Manchester City were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat but it was the strike by Morgan that will be remembered most as he caught City goalkeeper Ian Lawlor out, though his starting position was only on the penalty spot and there seemed to be little sign of danger when the Red’s player picked up the ball.
The England youth international must have been keeping a close eye on former Kop hero Xabi Alonso who also managed a couple of long range screamers in his time on Merseyside.
Morgan was a handful for Patrick Vieira’s U-21 side throughout the contest but the goal was a real collectors item.
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Wayne Rooney Taunted by Pablo Zabaleta After Manchester City Victory
Pablo Zabaleta revelled in the agony that was etched on Wayne Rooney’s face during Manchester City’s 4-1 win over United on Sunday, after the England man had claimed Liverpool fixtures were bigger than the derby.
Rooney was one of the few players in red to emerge with any credit from Sunday’s Etihad Stadium humbling, scoring a superb late consolation, but Zabaleta felt City had already proved their point, per Simon Stone of the DSSC:
I saw Rooney. He was one of Manchester United's main players and tried more than anyone else in their team.
He said Liverpool is still the big game but when I saw him working so hard it probably proves this game is just as important to him and United as Liverpool.
Prior to kickoff, Rooney had given an honest appraisal of United’s chief rivals, claiming City’s 2012 Premier League triumph was not enough to dislodge 18-time winners Liverpool as the team they most like to beat.
City have had their success recently, but I would probably say that United and Liverpool is still the biggest game.
They're all big games, but obviously United and Liverpool has been a massive game over the years. I'd say it's still the biggest game.
Historically, Rooney’s view is on par with many of the club’s fans. Liverpool remain the country’s most successful side in European competition with five European Cup wins to United’s three.
When the two teams meet, the atmosphere often turns sour with both clubs guilty of singing about the disasters suffered in each other’s histories.
However, City are undoubtedly the greater current threat to United’s domination of the English game, proved by their powerful 4-1 weekend triumph, courtesy of goals from Sergio Aguero (2), Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri.
Zabaleta highlights what the game meant to Rooney as he tore around the pitch, trying to restore pride in the second half. However, it was equally clear in the frustrations shown by United boss David Moyes and veteran Ryan Giggs.
Moyes spent the majority of the first half debating decisions with fourth official Michael Oliver and the nearside assistant referee, while Giggs reportedly shouted at Oliver as they entered the tunnel at halftime.
Ian Ladyman of the DSSC reports that Giggs yelled: “Man up and do your job.” The frustration was said to be rooted in the officials’ collective failure to dish out harsher punishment to Matija Nastasic, who ploughed through the back of Chris Smalling during the first half.
Nobody at United is attempting to hide how stung they are by Sunday’s result, with Nemanja Vidic confessing via Ladyman’s article: “It hurts. You don’t want to lose derby games in this way and trust me, no-one will want to remember this.”
Ironically, United must now face their greatest rivals—in the eyes of Rooney—when they host Liverpool in the League Cup this week.
Defeat is almost unthinkable for Moyes, who has already been beaten by the Reds and City this season
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[/spoiler]Everton have 'put aside' a new deal for Manchester United target Leighton Baines, 28, but manager Roberto Martinez promises a contract will be sorted for the defender. Daily Mirror
Italian champions Juventus will provide stiff competition for Liverpool to sign Xabi Alonso, 31, should the Real Madrid midfielder fail to extend his contract beyond next summer. talkSHIT
Arsenal are set to sign Basel defender Fabian Schar, 21, in January as boss Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his backline. Metro
Bristol City are interested in signing winger Luke Freeman, 21, in a £300,000 deal from League One rivals Stevenage. Daily Star
Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk, 21, is wanted on loan by MK Dons and Swindon. Daily Star
Sunderland want Watford boss Gianfranco Zola to succeed fellow Italian Paolo Di Canio as manager. Daily Mirror
Blackpool manager Paul Ince could also be looked at by Black Cats officials as Di Canio's successor. DSSC
Unemployed duo Roberto Di Matteo and Gus Poyet, also contenders to replace Di Canio, have serious reservations about taking the job. Guardian
Liverpool are prepared to wait before offering Glen Johnson, 29, a new contract despite the defender entering the final two years of his current deal. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he does not know when forward Theo Walcott, 24, will be fit to return from a stomach problem. Independent
Wenger still has a £50m transfer pot to spend at Arsenal even after paying £42.5m for 24-year-old midfielder Mesut Ozil. Sun
Manager Owen Coyle has blamed TV schedules for the fact Wigan will have to play a weakened team against Manchester City on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup just two days after their Championship game with Ipswich. DSSC
On-loan Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, 20, has revealed how he is improving his game - by watching every second of every Premier League game. Metro
Wolves striker Leigh Griffiths, 23, was praised for giving his shirt to a pensioner after striking the lifelong fan with a ball while warming up before his side's 1-0 win at Shrewsbury on Saturday. Express and Star
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