The Blues are in such blistering form, the headlines are starting to repeat themselves… You’ve likely read ‘five-star City’ quite a few times in recent weeks – but while inspiration may be lacking in written form, Pep Guardiola’s men certainly have no issues with creativity.
Club legend Mike Summerbee told press he believes his beloved City are ‘close to perfection’, following another 5-0 thrashing – this one of Crystal Palace – which proved an historic feat.
The triumph at the Etihad ensured the Blues became the first top flight side to claim three consecutive victories, scoring five or more goals, in the same season since Blackburn in the 1958/59 campaign!
And the great Summerbee says he could not think of a better way for the Club to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his team’s title triumph than by lifting the Premier League and/or Champions League trophies.
As quoted in the Mirror, the City ambassador purred: “The progress being made under Pep is phenomenal.
“I suppose it would be a fitting tribute if we could end up winning one of the big trophies.
“I was at Watford last weekend when we won 6-0 and Elton John, who was at the game, said he had not seen football like that for a long time.
“Watford was a watershed moment. Everybody knew what they had to do. The passing was exactly as Pep wanted it. And when he made his substitutions, the game never changed.
“From the moment he arrived, he wanted them to play a certain way and what I’m seeing now is close to perfection.
“This was the dream of the people who brought Pep to the club. To win at home and abroad with great football. It’s why they were so anxious to bring him here.”
It appears the journalists of the footballing world agree.
Jim Holden of the Express echoed: “They are top of the Premier League above rivals Manchester United this morning by more than alphabetical order.
“More important, who can doubt that they are top of the league for slick football and stupendous goals?
It is the hunger to play, the hunger to entertain, and the hunger to score a hatful every time they take the field that marks out this City team to have the potential for something very special.
“They have scored 16 goals in their last three Premier League games, and seven more in two cup matches. They are an irresistible tide just at the moment.”
Goal’s Sam Lee agreed: “Manchester City racked up another convincing scoreline against bottom club Crystal Palace, proving that they have the best collection of attacking players in the league.
“It is that variety in attack which makes City so dangerous.
“[Kevin] De Bruyne and David Silva, who passed to [Leroy] Sane for the first, are working wonders in the middle of the pitch, providing City’s forwards with chance after chance. Silva managed seven Premier League assists last season, but his two against Palace take him to six in total already.
“And with [Sergio] Aguero looking hungry for goals but just as eager to set up his team-mates - which was best demonstrated when he squared to Liverpool - Premier League defences need to be on the look-out.
“With seven attack-minded players who are all capable of taking teams apart by themselves, there will be few teams, either in England or further afield, who will be able to cope with City in this mood.”
Joe’s Simon Lloyd added: “Of course, it’s still far too early to be talking about Premier League titles for Pep Guardiola.
“It is, however, hard to deny that City, especially after recent performances, are looking the real deal.
“Yes, there will be sterner challenges ahead than this one, but there’s very much a sense that this team are on the brink of something special.”
Wrote Rob Draper in the Mail: “Twenty-two goals in the last five games suggests that City are even more formidable going forward than even before.
“City were simply sumptuous in the second half.
“When Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and man-of-the-match Leroy Sané combine, it puts you in mind of Arsenal’s Invincibles.”
Jamie Jackson of the Observer scribed: “They can be expected to improve: it is a frightening prospect.”
Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood discussed the importance of Guardiola’s new recruits, declaring the signings of Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker have transformed the Blues.
Interviewed by BT Sport, he stated: “The fullbacks are a massive plus.
“Mendy and Kyle Walker are exactly what they need. They’ve got pace; they’ve got power and if they need to, and find themselves out of position, they’ve got pace to get back.
“I think they can [go far in the Champions League]. The aim is surely to win it – if not this season, the next.”
