As the Blues spend the weekend training ahead of Monday night’s Premier League clash against Tottenham, we take a look at what the media is saying about City…
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A word on City’s aims from John Stones, Tottenham v City predictions and reaction to our FA Women’s Super League draw against Reading feature in this morning’s media watch.
First up, we hear from John Stones, who told the Telegraph that he is keen to remain at the club for the rest of his career and eyes improving last season’s records.
“I would love to (spend the rest of his career at City),” he tells Jason Burt. “What excites me is that a lot of the lads have signed long contracts and I’d love to play with all of them for years to come.”
When asked about breaking our impressive 100 Premier League points record, Stones admits that the squad have to aim high.
“I think it’s more of the same, really,” Stones says. “Such a high bar to set ourselves but that bar is there to be broken, to try and beat that.
“And I don’t think it’s impossible. We’ve drawn two games but last season away at Liverpool we lost (4-3) so that’s another step forward, to go there and do that. I don’t see why we can’t break it (100 points). I’m not saying we will but it has to be an ambition. Fifty points at home and 50 points away is unheard of as a team and I’d love to keep improving.”
Next up, we turn our attention to Monday’s game against Tottenham. As usual, Mark Lawrenson has made his predictions alongside a celebrity on the BBC Sport website.
This week, he goes head-to-head with Richard Ashcroft.
Lawrenson predicts: “Manchester City beat Tottenham easily at Wembley at the end of last season and, with its wide open spaces, I think it is a stadium that suits them.
“I cannot see any reason why City won’t do something similar this time - especially now Kevin de Bruyne is back from injury.
“City boss Pep Guardiola said his side’s performance in their midweek win over Shakhtar Donetsk was the best he had seen since he has been at the club, so it would appear they are in decent form too. Lawro’s prediction: 0-2.”
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Meanwhile, his guest predicts a draw.
Ashcroft writes: “We know City are rolling, we know they have got a great manager and we know they have got a great team, but Tottenham are due a wake-up - they have got a couple of players who are not hitting the form of last season, but this could be the day. 1-1.”
Finally, we look at the BBC’s assessment of Friday night’s draw against Reading. Nick Cushing’s side shared the points with the Royals after Jade Moore’s header cancelled out Georgia Stanway’s breathtaking strike.
“Tessa Wullaert struck the crossbar for City in stoppage time in a game both sides had chances to win,” BBC reports.
“Reading were good value for the point and bounced back from a 6-0 thrashing at leaders Arsenal last Sunday.
“City move level on points with Arsenal, but have played two more games than the Gunners, who travel to Bristol City Women on Sunday. Reading move up a place to sixth after their second draw of the campaign.
“England Under-20 international Stanway will no doubt have impressed watching Lionesses head coach Phil Neville as she struck a curling effort from 25 yards past a helpless Grace Maloney in the Reading goal.
“But Moore, five minutes after coming off the bench on her return from a long-term ankle injury, was left unmarked from a Fara Williams corner to head in Reading’s leveller.
“City forward Nikita Parris was denied by a number of smart saves by Maloney as she hunted the goal which would have moved her level with Eni Aluko as leading goalscorer in WSL history.”
