Tag Archives: City

City face uphill Europa battle

Posted on by
Reply

Manchester City, Liverpool and Rangers are all in Europa League action on Thursday night – with all three in danger of heading out of the competition in the last 16 (Europa League outright – Liverpool 6/1).

City are in the most precarious position of the British trio.  Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled side were humbled as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the Ukraine against Dynamo Kiev and it will take a big effort from the Eastlands side if they are to reach the quarter-finals.

City simply can’t afford to concede against Dynamo on Thursday night as they could not grab a crucial away goal at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium last week.

However, Mancini has his side well drilled and they have kept clean sheets in their last three consecutive home games – City are evens to keep a clean sheet and 6/5 to win to nil, both of which look good value considering their recent home form.

City need to win at least 3-0 if they are to progress, it will be a big ask for Mancini’s men and they are priced at 18/1 to secure a 3-0 victory over the Ukrainian outfit.

The Manchester side will also be boosted by the return of midfield playmaker James Milner from a hamstring injury, but Adam Johnson is unlikely to feature as he is still struggling with an ankle injury.

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 in Portugal by Braga but the Anfield outfit should be too strong for the Portuguese side on home soil.

Braga have a decent record at home and managed to see off Arsenal at the Estádio AXA but they do not fair so well on their travels, domestically and in Europe.

In the Portuguese Liga Sagres they have managed just two wins, losing six and drawing three and in Europe they have been beaten at Arsenal (6-0), Shaktar Donetsk and Lech Poznan.

Liverpool may have been left frustrated in Portugal but they should prove far too strong for a Braga side who do not travel well.  In the Half-Time/Full-Time market a Liverpool/Liverpool result is priced at 11/10 and the Reds should be full of confidence after seeing off Manchester United 3-1 last time out.

Rangers managed to secure a 0-0 draw with PSV Eindhoven in Holland and are in the driving seat with home advantage for Thursday night’s showdown.

PSV drew with strugglers NEC in their last league fixture, while Rangers secured a narrow win over Kilmarnock in the SPL and both sides struggled on their return to domestic action but will be keen to book a spot in the last eight.

Rangers have a few injury problems to key players and PSV, the Dutch league leaders, have a formidable record on their travels in the Eredivisie and have lost just once.

A draw, with goals, would be good enough for PSV and Rangers will need to be on the top of their game to see off the Dutch giants.

This is a tricky one to call and there is little to chose between the two sides but PSV are capable of grabbing a goal, as are Rangers, and this could end in a tie – which is priced at 23/10, for the braver punter a 1-1 final score (which would see Rangers eliminated) is priced at 11/2.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

City closing in on elusive trophy

Posted on by
Reply

Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong says the club’s players are as desperate as the fans to end their long wait for a trophy and the FA Cup now looks their best chance of doing so this season as they prepare to host Reading in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

City have not picked up silverware since they won the 1976 League Cup but success is surely on the horizon given the huge amount of money that has been lavished on the team by the club’s rich owners in the past couple of years.

Indeed, some would say a trophy is now overdue which is why Sunday’s home game against the Championship outfit is so important – especially in the light of the 2-0 Europa League defeat against Dynamo Kiev in midweek.

There is still a second leg to come against the Ukrainians as the Blues look to make amends for Thursday’s disappointment, but if the Royals were to earn a replay, or even beat City on their own patch, then that would be an even bigger surprise.

Nothing other than a comfortable City win is expected at Eastlands this weekend as Roberto Mancini’s side aim to take their place in the last four and book a first trip to the new Wembley in the process.

But Reading, who have enjoyed themselves in this competition in recent years, must not be underestimated.

Brian McDermott masterminded a 1-0 win at Everton in the fifth round last month so they know how to win at big venues in the competition.

Likely to be backed by a large away following, Reading will look to play it tight early on before trying to nick a goal as the game develops, but it looks a tall order for them to extend their fine run in the FA Cup.

City will be bang up for the game with the pressure on Mancini to deliver something this season and they are attractively priced at 8/1 to win 3-0. Another tempting bet is draw/Man City in the half-time/full-time market as Reading set their stall out to defend early on.

McDermott’s side are a huge 8/1 to claim another top-flight scalp and, while the draw at 18/5 looks inviting, we can’t see it happening. It is likely to be the end of Reading’s run while City should stay on course for that trophy everyone at Eastlands is so desperately after.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

City can cut United lead

Posted on by
Reply

After the mid-week international action we return to the Premier League and are treated to a huge match to kick off the weekend as Manchester City travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. Arsenal are also in action, while there is a six-pointer at the Hawthorns between West Ham and West Brom.

Manchester United v Manchester City (12:45pm)

City boss Roberto Mancini must have ended last weekend with a huge smile on his face after his side thumped West Brom and the rest of the top four either lost or drew. City are now five points behind United and that gap could be even closer come three o’clock on Saturday. You would expect a response from United after their first defeat of the league campaign for Wolves. However, City have pushed United close at Old Trafford in recent fixtures and have what it takes to get the better of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side this weekend. Either way, let’s hope for a better game than the one at Eastlands.

Match Bet – City to win @ 18/5

Arsenal v Wolves (3pm)

These two had very contrasting weekends seven days ago and expect that to have a bearing on this game. Arsenal are likely to have had their confidence shaken by Newcastle’s comeback and this won’t be the walk in the park it might have been two weeks ago. Wolves have been excellent against the top sides this season, beating Liverpool, Chelsea and most recently Manchester United. Expect Arsenal to win, but not by much.

Match Bet – Draw half-time/Arsenal full-time @ 10/3

Birmingham v Stoke (3pm)

Some would probably consider Stoke lucky to have taken all three points against Sunderland last week. However, that never say die attitude the Potters have has served them well this year and they could be looking at Europe if their away form picks up. Stoke have a poor record against Birmingham but Blues aren’t as strong at home as they were 12 months ago and Stoke’s luck should hold to see them through this game.

Match Bet – Stoke to win @ 2/1

Blackburn v Newcastle (3pm)

Is this going to be a case of after the Lord Mayors show for Newcastle after their comeback last week? Probably. They were so poor in the first half and if they give Blackburn a similar head start they are unlikely to complete another remarkable comeback. Rovers haven’t been in the best run of form but have a habit of turning teams over who find themselves in mid-table. This should be a much more low scoring affair than these two sides found themselves in last week.

Match Bet – Under 2.5 goals @ 5/6

Blackpool v Aston Villa (3pm)

For Blackpool fans the trap door back to the Championship is beginning to come into view after five straight defeats. The points tally for this season is likely to be so high that the Seasiders good start is unlikely to save them. In contrast Villa have lost just one in the last seven and are going well. Their frontline should enjoy a fruitful day against a Blackpool defence that has conceded 16 in the last five.

Match Bet – Darren Bent first goalscorer 4/1

Liverpool v Wigan (3pm)

The old saying goes that Kenny Dalglish is magic and based on last Sunday few could dispute that right now. When Roy Hodgson was in charge Reds fans would have looked at this fixture with a bit of trepidation. However, with Dalglish in the hot seat they’ll expect to turn over the Latics with few problems. Wigan are pretty awful on the road and will look at this game as a bonus match, rather than a chance to pick up points.

Match Bet – Liverpool to win 3-0 @ 7/1

West Brom v West Ham (3pm)

February is usually the month when the six-pointer term creeps into the press. This game certainly qualifies for that tag as the Baggies remain outside the drop zone on goal difference alone. They have a new manager in Roy Hodgson but he will watch from the stands this weekend. Expect Hodgson’s arrival to give West Brom a lift but whether they win will depend on which West Ham side turns up. Time to get splinters and sit on the fence with this game.

Match Bet – Draw @ 12/5

Sunderland v Tottenham (5:30pm)

Tottenham could have their minds on other things when they head to Wearside with an impending Champions League tie to come against AC Milanin midweek. Harry Redknapp is caught between a rock and hard place though as a win on Saturday will lift them above Chelsea and into fourth. However, the lure of Tuesday’s trip to Milan might be too much for Tottenham’s players and Sunderland are ready to pounce. They will feel hard done by after last week and will fancy their chances of bouncing back at home.

Match Bet – Sunderland to win @ 13/8

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

City favourites in Europa League

Posted on by
Reply

Three British teams will be bidding to qualify for the next stage of the Europa League when the competition resumes next month. Manchester City, Rangers and Liverpool all play their first-legs of the Round of 32 during the week of February 14, with the reverse legs taking place a week later.

Rangers take on Sporting of Portugal at Ibrox in the first leg, with the two teams going into the ties with very different records behind them in Europe this season (Rangers 5/4 to qualify).

Sporting topped Group C in the Europa League, with four wins from their six games including an impressive 2-1 away win at Lille, who finished as the group’s other qualifiers. The Portuguese side scored 14 goals in the round as they won all their three home ties including a 5-1 thumping of Gent and a 5-0 win over Levski Sofia.

Sporting had a major blip in the play-off round when they lost their first leg 2-0 at home to Brondby and looked to be heading out. But they responded in style, winning 3-0 in the return in Denmark to go through.

Sporting sit third in the league thanks to four wins in their last six games, and have three in-form strikers. Helda Postiga and Carlos Saleiro have each scored four goals from nine games this season, while Yannick Djalo has three from 10.

Rangers’ lone success in Europe this season has come from a 1-0 home win over Bursaspor, though the only time they have been outclassed was in the 3-0 defeat to Valencia. They conceded just one goal over two games against Manchester United, so will come into the Europa League with some confidence (Rangers 66/1 to win Europa League).

Since their shock 2-0 defeat at home to Hibernian in November, Rangers have won five of their seven games, the only loss coming in the January 2 Old Firm game.

Manchester City will face a trip to Aris on February 15, with the Greeks having surprised many by pipping 2010 winners Atletico Madrid into the second qualification spot in Group B behind Bayer Leverkusen (City 1/8 to qualify).

Aris beat Atletico 1-0 at home and won the away game 3-2, so they deserved their place in the Round of 32. Fourth in the Greek Super League, Aris qualified by finishing fourth in last season’s play-offs.

The Thessaloniki-based side boast seven current internationals, including Christos Aravidis, Athanassios Prittas and Michaelis Sifakis of Greece and Toja of Colombia.

The Greeks have struggled for goals in their domestic league in the current season, but Croatian striker Danijel Cesarec has scored four in seven Europa League games.

City were level with Manchester neighbours United at the top of the Premier League going into this weekend’s fixtures, though having played two games more (City 4/1 favourites to win Europa League).

They will have few fears of going to Greece, having already won six Premier League games away from Eastlands and finished top of Group A in the last round.

City beat Lech Poznan 3-1 at home and Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium, and finished the group ahead of the Polish team on goal difference.

Roberto Mancini’s side have been second in the table for the past four weeks and went into this weekend’s games having won six of their last eight Premier League games.

Like City, Liverpool must start on the road when they go to Sparta Prague on February 17 (Liverpool 1/6 to qualify).

Sparta were a distant second to CSKA Moscow in Group F, losing just once but only winning two games. They beat Palermo 3-2 at home at Lausanne-Sport 3-1 away, but were well beaten 3-0 by the Russians in Moscow.

Sparta won the Gambrinus liga last season, as well as the Supercup, but are four points behind leaders Viktoria Plzen after the first 17 games of the current season.

Liverpool qualified for the Europa League by finishing seventh in the Premier League last season, but have been hugely disappointing in the first half of the current campaign and axed Roy Hodgson as manager earlier this month (Liverpool 13/2 to win Europa League).

The Liverpool supporters got their wish when legend Kenny Dalglish took over at the helm, but they will need to turn their season around quickly.

Liverpool completed a good 3-1 aggregate win over Trabzonspor in the play-off stage, having seen off Rabotnicki 4-0 in the qualifying round.

In the group stage, they finished top by three points over Napoli having been undefeated in their six games. They only conceded three goals in the round and enjoyed a 4-1 home win over Steaua Bucharest and beat Napoli 3-1 at Anfield.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Spurs & City main January movers

Posted on by
Reply

Bet on the Premier LeagueIt’s that time again as teams across Europe look to shake up their squads in the January transfer window.

Once again the same big clubs are being linked with top players in the UK and across the continent, with Tottenham Hotspur (20/1 to win the Premier League) and Manchester City leading the way.

According to manager Harry Redknapp, the former England skipper David Beckham is keen on making a return to the Premier League with a loan deal at White Hart Lane.

The 35-year-old has been strongly linked with the north London club as LA Galaxy are currently in their off-season.

Spurs are also said to be interested in bringing in Everton’s Steven Pienaar who is out of contract at Goodison Park in the summer.

Toffees boss David Moyes has been desperate to keep hold of the key midfielder but may be resigned to losing the South African in January or risk him walking out on a free at the end of the season.

There has been speculation that the Whites are set to make a £1.5m move for Pienaar but Everton want at least £3m for the player.

A striker who could be on his way out of White Hart Lane is Robbie Keane whose whole career has been spent moving from club to club.

The Irishman could be making a return to his first employers Wolves as Mick McCarthy looks for more firepower up front.

David Bentley has been linked with a move north to Newcastle United who are said to be interested in bringing the midfielder to St James’ Park.

As for the Premier League big spenders Manchester City (4/1 to win the Europa League), they could be adding yet more quality to their attacking line up which already includes the likes of Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo.

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko could be on his way to Eastlands this month in a deal worth £30m.

With more signings potentially on their way, there could be a mass exodus of talented players who are no longer part of Roberto Mancini’s plans.

The likes of Roque Santa Cruz, Shay Given, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge and Jo could all be on their way out of Eastlands as Mancini looks to trim down his squad.

There are a couple of players who have impressed in the Championship who could make the step up to the Premier League too.

Middlesbrough’s David Wheater looks set to leave the Riverside in the current transfer window, with a number of Premier League clubs looking for a decent central defender said to be keen.

Meanwhile, QPR star Adel Taarabt has been attracting plenty of attention as he has been one of the best players in the Championship this season and could possibly make a move to the top flight too.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Tevez can fire City to revenge

Posted on by
Reply

Carlos Tevez can prove the decisive factor in helping Manchester City end Manchester United’s unbeaten run (City 8/5, Draw 9/4, Utd 17/10 – Match Betting), with the Argentinian making a timely return to action.

The former United favourite was sorely missed during City’s three-game losing streak, but his comeback at West Brom saw Roberto Mancini’s men return to winning ways.

It was the red half of Manchester that enjoyed the bragging rights last season, with two wins over their local rivals in the league and success also in the Carling Cup.

The determination to turn the tables on Fergie’s men is clear and no one will be more desperate for a victory than Tevez (6/5 to score at anytime) – who already has seven league goals to his name this season.

United, who were fortunate to claim a late winner against Wolves, have a string of injury absentees and have been battling against a virus in the camp in the last week.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already expressed his concern at a lack of numbers, with Nani doubtful and Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves sidelined.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s title credentials face a big test when they visit a resurgent Wolves outfit (5/1 to win the game), who are capable of inflicting another defeat on the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger’s men slipped to their third defeat of the season against Newcastle on Sunday and the Frenchman needs his key men to respond at Molineux.

League leaders Chelsea have just the game they need to get them back on track after defeat to Liverpool when they face west London rivals Fulham.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are a different team at Stamford Bridge and they will prove too strong for a Fulham squad struggling for goals at present without the injury Bobby Zamora.

Fresh from their success over the champions, Liverpool will be handed another test to see if they really have turned the corner – with an away date at Wigan.

The Latics clash is the type of game the Reds have struggled with in the past, with Liverpool scoring just two goals in their last three visits to the DW Stadium.

With Fernando Torres (7/2 to score first goal) close to top form though, the Wigan defence don’t look strong enough to cope with the Reds’ attacking threat.

Newcastle will face former boss Sam Allardyce when Blackburn visit St James’ Park, and the Magpies look set for a third league win on the bounce.

Rovers may be hard to beat at home but their away form is poor and an in-form Toon will fancy their chances of cementing a top-six place.

There could well be more pressure heaped on Gerard Houllier when Blackpool visit Villa Park looking for their fourth away win of the season.

Villa have a striking injury crisis at present and it’s hard to see where their goals will come from, while the Tangerines are scoring plenty.

Despite another impressive win for Bolton at the weekend, history suggests they will be on the end of a defeat at Everton on Wednesday.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last six matches and look a decent bet to defeat Owen Coyle’s men, who have lost on their last four visits to Goodison Park.

West Ham look in real trouble at the bottom but they could pick up their second win of the season again struggling West Brom (West Ham 11/8, Draw 9/4, West Brom 2/1 – Match Betting).

After a fine start to the season, the Baggies have lost back-to-back games and confidence and discipline looks to be draining from the squad.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Mancini ‘facing City rebellion’

Posted on by
Reply

Premier League results at the weekend have dictated that Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is off the hook – and replaced by his counterpart at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini (City now 10/1 – Premier League Outright).

The Magpies’ 5-1 mauling of fierce rivals Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday ended a week which had seen Newcastle hand former Republic of Ireland defender Hughton the dreaded vote of confidence.

Had his side decided his time was up and capitulated against Steve Bruce’s Black Cats then he may well have quickly discovered that the club statement was worth far less than the paper it was scribbled on.

No, Hughton gets a reprieve, at least until Sunday when he takes Newcastle to Arsenal.

Which gets us to Mancini who is, according to a tabloid report, on thin ice following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at lowly Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

Player power, apparently, has reared its head at Eastlands and the 45-year-old is now facing the prospect of Christman on the dole – or il sussidio di disoccupazione as they might say in Milan.

At least he’ll probably get to keep his blue and white scarf to keep warm.

‘Complete mess’, ‘no one takes any notice’ and ‘team spirit is falling apart’ scream quotes from ’sources’ in The Sun on Monday morning, however Kolo Toure has now reassured long-suffering Blues fans that everything in the garden is smelling of roses and that problems will be resolved “in the dressing room and the training camp”.

So that’s ok then.

But what is certainly not ok is the fact City, for all their millions, went to Molineux at the weekend, took the lead, but then let Mick McCarthy’s men back into the game before slipping to their second Premier League defeat on the bounce.

City are now fourth after starting the weekend in second spot although their early-season performances had hardly inspired talk of global dominance, and they clearly missed the absent Carlos Tevez at Wolves.

Hardly one to keep out of an argument, Yaya Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, has revealed the former Barcelona midfielder’s thinking does not coincide with that of his older brother.

Seluk is quoted: “Yaya thinks there are some players, perhaps mostly those who have been there for a long time, who think that fourth place is already a big position that it is good enough to ‘not lose’ rather than to always win.”

City have now lost three games already this season and are eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Former boss Mark Hughes was dispensed with last term in similar circumstances and it would come as no surprise if player power does win out at City.

However, the fact remains that since Sir Alex Ferguson took over at Manchester United in 1986, City have got through an unlucky 13 permanent bosses and while the game has moved on, clubs seldom prosper by chopping and changing.

Whatever happens, Mancini, whose training methods were criticised last season, says he wants to get to the root of Saturday’s no-show.

“We must know where that performance came from and we must start again because the season is very long,” he admitted.

“Maybe because we played well for the first 15 minutes, we thought it was an easy game.

“Such a thing doesn’t exist in football.”

Easy games, no, the sack, yes.

City are next in action in the Europa League on Thursday night when they make the trip to Lech Poznan looking to seal a place in the knockout stage (Lech 9/2, draw 14/5, City 8/13 – 90 minutes betting).

Newcastle are now 1/9 to stay up this season.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

City set for titanic Rooney bid

Posted on by
Reply

Manchester City (11/2 – Premier League Outright 2010/11) have admitted they are interested in Wayne Rooney and will monitor his situation closely after Sir Alex Ferguson revealed his star striker has asked for a move from Manchester United.

The mega-rich Manchester club are believed to be the favourites to sign the 24-year-old whose agent told United chief executive David Gill he would not be extending his contract at Old Trafford this summer (Man Utd 4/1 – Premier League Outright 2010/11).

Reds manager Sir Alex Ferguson kept the news in-house in the hope that the player might undergo a change of heart, but has now been forced to go public after a week of speculation leading up to Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Bursaspor.

Rooney, who memorably scored a hat-trick against another Turkish outfit – Fenerbahce – in 2004, will not be in United’s line-up this week after Ferguson declared he has an ankle injury.

“It was terribly disappointing that he wanted to leave. We just couldn’t understand it,” said the Scottish boss.

“We have to keep the door open because he is such a good player.

“We have done nothing but help him since he came to this club, that is why this is such a mystery to us. We’ve helped him with his private life and other matters.

“So we’re as bemused as anyone can be because we can’t understand why he would want to leave a club that is successful as we are in British football.”

City, who have ambitions to become the biggest club in world football, are the obvious candidates to make the highest bid (Man City Multiple Trophies).

They have links to Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, through the player’s sponsor Nike and an unnamed official has already spoken about the situation across the city.

“We hadn’t discussed signing Rooney until the last week because we never thought he would be available, just like we have never discussed signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona,” they told the Guardian.

“Now we know he wants to leave United we’re obviously going to monitor it closely.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Toure eyes City silverware

Posted on by
Reply

Kolo Toure says he joined Manchester City (15/2 Premier League Outright) to win silverware and feels they can achieve plenty of success with the squad they have.

The former Arsenal star joined the Eastlands revolution last summer, following an eight-year spell with the Gunners, where he won a Premier League title and two FA Cup winners medals.

Toure believes City (5/2 to win a major trophy in 2010/11) have taken another big step forward this season, including his own form, as they look to break the Premier League dominance of Chelsea and Manchester United.

The 29-year-old told the club’s website: “I came here to win trophies and play Champions League football and that is what we are all working hard to achieve.”

Toure feels he still has “five or six years left” playing at the highest level and wants those years to be packed with success and silverware.

The defender added: “I have played in one great team and I want to be part of another one. People who know me, know that I am as enthusiastic about the game as I have ever been.”

Despite admitting that he is happy with his current form, Toure believes there is still more to come from him and says he feels “much fitter” than he did last season.

He concluded: “Now I am settled in Manchester, I know everyone at the club; I know how it all works and feel very happy and comfortable with the way things are going.”

Roberto Mancini’s men return to Premier League action this weekend, when they travel to Bloomfield Road to face new-boys Blackpool (5/4 to stay up this season).

Ian Holloway will have to prepare his Tangerines side to face City without the benefit of his encouragement from the touchline.

The Blackpool boss has been handed a one-match touchline ban after his outburst at the referee Mike Dean following the home defeat to Blackburn last month.

An FA regulatory commission heard the case in London on Monday and handed him a one-match ban and a fine of £9,500, he will not be allowed any contact with his players during the game this weekend.

After the hearing Holloway apologised for swearing, saying: “You should never swear, I shouldn’t have done it and I apologise.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Essien questions City “stamina”

Posted on by
Reply

Ray Wilkins and Michael Essien have joined forces to question whether or not Manchester City have the staying power to usurp Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title (15/2 Manchester City – Premier League Outright).

The champions bounced back from a 1-0 defeat at Eastlands last month by securing capital gains with a 2-0 victory over London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to lead City by four points at the top of the table.

A fourth draw on the road this season for Manchester United – against Sunderland on Saturday – means they now trail the west Londoners at the top of the pile by five points.

Assistant manager Wilkins accepts City have to be taken seriously given the huge outlay afforded to boss Roberto Mancini, but says Chelsea still view United and Arsenal as the biggest threats to his side’s hopes of retaining the English crown (8/13 Chelsea – Premier League Outright).

The former England midfielder believes Mancini will need more time to work out his strongest team and his new signings have not fused yet.

He told the Independent: “It will always be Manchester United, it will always be Arsenal.

“They will always be there or thereabouts. Yes, City, as fabulous a group of footballers as they have, have got to gel as a unit.”

He added: “They are getting results and good luck to them as well, but it’s never easy when you are just pulling guys together and hoping that it will come together.

“It’s very tough and Roberto (Mancini) is doing a good job for them as well.”

Ghana powerhouse Essien says City’s spending prowess dictates they have to be considered as dangerous – but he is not convinced they have the collective know-how to sustain a season-long challenge for the domestic game’s biggest prize.

He said: “Manchester City are our closest challengers right now. You can see they made good signings and they will be up for it. We will see what happens. I don’t know if they will have the stamina but they have the players to go out and do the job.”

Essien added: “Maybe we have an advantage because we know what it takes to win the league but every season is different. We have to keep going.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s men return after the international break with a difficult Premier League away trip to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa on October 16.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.