Are Manchester City becoming the new Barcelona?

By David Anderson in Mirror Football Blog

Published 21:30 27/10/11

Roberto Mancini dismisses comparisons between his Manchester City side and Barcelona as deftly as David Silva shrugs off an opponent.

But the City manager is going to find it harder to play down such talk if Silva and Co continue to dazzle like this.

Roberto Martinez first made the comparison last month after his Wigan side had been blown away by Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium.

He likened them to the Barca of 2008-2009, when Pep Guardiola was on his way to winning his first Champions League.

“I think Barcelona three years ago had little flashes like City are showing,” said the cultured Spaniard, who knows how the game should be played.

“Three years down the line, you’ll be able to compare them to a side like Barcelona. Nobody can be compared to Barcelona yet. You have to win many titles, you have to play many games together.

“But what is quite clear is that the ingredients of this Manchester City have got the capability to achieve anything in world football.”

The hyperbole from beaten managers, players and pundits have continued to flow with each great performance, culminating in their jaw-dropping 6-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

They have averaged 3.67 goals per game in the Premier League compared to Barca’s 3.00 in La Liga, and their 87 per cent pass completion rate is close to the Spanish side’s figure of 91 per cent.

City legend Tony Book, who is a permanent fixture in the directors box at home and away games, agrees with Martinez that they are showing Barca-like flashes.

“You can’t say they are the new Barcelona because they’re not at that level yet, but they’re certainly taking shape,” he said.

“The big difference for me is in their attacking play. Last season they were maybe a bit defensive minded, but now with the quality they have in attacking positions, they can really go after teams.

“Whereas last season they would win 1-0, now they are going out to score three or four goals against teams. They’ve shown that philosophy not just at home, but away too and they’ve scored five at White Hart Lane and six at Old Trafford.

“The evolution in City’s playing style this season is that while Mancini still has his two sitting midfield players, the full-backs provide the width so Nasri, Aguero and Silva can roam the pitch.

“The big difference between where City are now and Barcelona is that City don’t have a Lionel Messi. He is the focal point of that Barcelona team.”

City may not have Messi, but they do have Silva, and former Barcelona star Yaya Toure claims the little Spaniard is talented enough to play for his old team.

Mancini says Silva would grace either Barcelona or Real Madrid while, for Book, the little Spaniard - who has been nicknamed Merlin by his team-mates - is the best since George Best.

Book has always hailed Best as the greatest talent he ever played against or saw, but he says Silva has the same all-round ability.

“I played against some great players and George Best was probably the best of them all,” he said. “George had everything. He could run at you, he could pass it short or long and he could score goals.

“This lad is right up there with him. I would put him in that category. He’s top drawer, it’s as simple as that. I don’t say that lightly and for me he is pure quality.

“He has the same all-round game as George and you can see that every time he’s on the ball. He makes it all look so easy and he has that ability to pick people out with those sliderule passes.

“People wondered if he would be able handle the speed and physical nature of the Premier League and it was the same with George. He maybe needed a month or two to get used to it, but no-one has been able to stop him.”

Mancini refuses to get carried away by Silva or his team’s scintillating form, claiming May will be the time to pass a more sober judgement.

And Book is confident City will have some more silverware in their trophy cabinet then.

“You can’t be called great until you win one of the big ones, like the Champions League or Premier League, and I feel it is just a matter of time with this City side,” he said.

STATS SO FAR IN 2011-2012 (DOMESTIC LEAGUE)

Barcelona Man City

Games Played 9 9

Goals 27 33

Ave Goals per game 3.0 3.67

Shots (excl blocked shots) 117 149

Shots on Target % 57 48

Goals to Shots % 23 22

Short Passes 6,912 4,591

Long Passes 470 385

Overall Pass Completion % 91 87

Total Crosses 120 174