Profile: Álvaro Negredo

Spanish forward follows Navas to the Etihad Stadium

By Aaron Leggott

Manuel Pellegrini is quietly overseeing the beginning of a new and exciting era at Manchester City. Following the purchase of midfielders Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, the Chilean has  finalised the transfer of Álvaro Negredo from Sevilla for around £20 million pending a successful medical.

Photo: Official Sevilla Facebook

The 27 year old, who was Europe's seventh top scorer last season, has been seen by many to be a steal at just £20 million. 

So what can he bring to the Blues? Here's a quick lowdown on the man who has spent the last four years at Los Rojiblancos:

Name: Álvaro Negredo

Age: 27

Position: Striker

Club appearances (Sevilla): 139

Club goals (Sevilla): 70

Match Reflection: SuperSport United 2 - 0 Manchester City

City lose first pre-season game under Pellegrini

By Aaron Leggott

Manuel Pellegrini saw his new City side lose to SuperSport United by two goals in the first pre-season game of the 2013/14 season. 

And despite City showing their dominance in the first half, they were unable to exert their dominance in the second period after Mame Niang and Kermit Erasmus scored in the 56th and 81st minutes respectively.

Scott Sinclair in action
Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

City, as expected, made the stronger start to the game and lone striker Edin Dzeko produced two efforts on target within the opening stages.

Match Reflection: Manchester City 2 - 3 Norwich

Norwich win adds to a miserable week for City

By Aaron Leggott

A compelling final day encounter between Manchester City and Norwich left a bitter taste in the mouth of City fans following a 3-2 defeat at home to the Canaries.

City pegged Norwich back twice during the game before Jonny Howson scored what proved to be the winner on 65 minutes with a superb solo effort.

Jack Rodwell scoring his second goal against Norwich
Official MCFC Facebook

Interim manager Brian Kidd, who made five changes to the team that beat Reading on Tuesday night, expressed his happiness that a difficult week at the club has finally come to an end.

"It's been an emotional week with the events at the club. Full credit to the lads, they've all got stuck in and you can't ask for anymore than that."

Manchester Utd 1 - 2 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

My thoughts

This performance reminded me of the City of last season. It was a committed and determined performance from the team and you could tell that they wanted this more than United. 

I was surprised at Ferguson's selection before the match as he opted with a midfield of Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young. He once again picked the wrong team for a big match and this was where the game was won on Monday. You'd have thought that United would have wanted to extend their gap to 18 points but they were just lethargic.

Their fans will argue that the league is all wrapped up now (which it probably is) but if the tables were turned and City put in a performance like that despite being 15 points ahead - I'd be extremely disappointed.

Match Preview: The Manchester Derby

Can City claim some pride despite all but losing title?

By Aaron Leggott

At the start of the season, people looked at the fixture calendar and eyed this clash as one that could decide where the title would be heading in May. Fast forward eight months and those same people are probably thinking differently. 

With eight games left to play, Manchester City find themselves a huge 15 points behind their cross city rivals and all connected with the club have all but given up any hope of retaining the title.

However, there is still the small matter of a Manchester Derby to play - and everyone knows that these fixtures always mean something, especially considering how City have improved over recent years.

Last season's Old Trafford Derby clash was a good day to be a City fan!

Roberto Mancini has declared that all his players (apart from Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell and Maicon) are ready for selection, with Sergio Aguero expected to make his first start since his injury. 

Match Reflection: Manchester City 4 - 0 Newcastle

David Silva scores City's second of the game.

"Kaptain" Kompany returns as City record comfortable win

By Aaron Leggott

Roberto Mancini might have conceded the Premier League title, but his players aren't ready to give up on a strong finish to the season just yet.

Goals from Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure ensured City strolled to victory at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.

And despite a couple of testing efforts from the visitors at the start of the second half, they were deservedly beaten and worries of relegation are increasingly looming upon the Magpies.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Newcastle

Aguero set to return after injury

By Aaron Leggott

After missing the last three weeks of action through injury, City are ready to welcome back Sergio Aguero to the starting eleven after he recovered from the knee problem that kept him out.

There will also be a late fitness test for captain Vincent Kompany, who despite missing the past eight weeks, was picked to represent his country midweek as Belgium beat Macedonia 1-0. 

Considering he was out for so long, the decision taken by the Belgian boss Marc Wilmots hasn't been taken kindly by Roberto Mancini.

Match Reflection: Everton 2 - 0 Manchester City

Osman wonder strike sinks City's title hopes

By Aaron Leggott

It seems that City have all but conceded the title over to rivals Manchester United as yesterday's defeat ensured a 15 point difference between the two teams at the top of the league.

In truth, City did not deserve anything from the game at Goodison Park. With Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany all missing out, our task to win wasn't made any easier at a historically tough place for the Blues to visit.

Everton showed the fight, determination and spirit needed to beat the Champions and spectacular efforts from Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic ensured City were leaving Merseyside without three points for yet another year.

Match Preview: Everton vs Manchester City

City aim to heap more woes on Goodison faithful

By Aaron Leggott

After last Saturday's calamitous defeat at home to Wigan, Everton go into this game knowing that their chances of European qualification are extremely slim.

With the FA Cup semi final draw pitting City against Chelsea or Manchester United and Wigan against Milwall, it means that Europa League qualification will only be rewarded in the Premier League to the side that finishes 5th.

And on recent form, it is unlikely that Everton will be sitting in that position come May. With Liverpool coming into some great form ahead of the run in and Arsenal also in the mix for the fight to Europe, you'd be a brave man to back David Moyes' side now.

So, with 11 years without a trophy... is this really good enough for Everton? The myth that they are on a penniless budget is exactly that and the Toffee's record against the big boys is nothing short of awful. 

Match Reflection: Manchester City 5 - 0 Barnsley

Emphatic win secures potential Manchester derby in semi final

By Aaron Leggott

Clinical, deadly, effective. These are just some of the superlatives that can be used to describe City's emphatic quarter final triumph against Barnsley on Saturday night as Carlos Tevez grabbed his fifth hat trick in English football. 

Without a goal conceded in the FA Cup campaign so far, City were extremely hopeful of dismantling a Barnsley side struggling at the bottom of the Championship, and they certainly gave the visitors no hope of a miracle almost immediately.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Barnsley

A potential banana skin for the Champions?

By Aaron Leggott

Barnsley make their first visit to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to face English champions Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter final.

It is the first meeting between the sides since September 2004, when a City side that included the likes of Paul Bosvelt and Willo Flood pushed Barnsley aside with ease after an emphatic 7-1 win in the League Cup.

Match Reflection: Villa 0 - 1 Manchester City

Tevez wins the game for City in scrappy encounter

By Aaron Leggott

A mistake from Villa defender Ciaran Clark cost the home side dearly on Monday night as City took advantage to keep the gap at the top of the league at just 12 points.

Before kick off, City knew that anything less than a win was not good enough with United beating Norwich on Saturday. Roberto Mancini made just one change to the side that beat Chelsea, with Carlos Tevez replacing Sergio Aguero, who picked up a knee injury in training.

Match Preview: Aston Villa vs Manchester City

City look to add to Villa's relegation fears

By Aaron Leggott

After United's 4-0 victory at home to Norwich yesterday, City will be travelling to Villa Park tomorrow night with hopes of shortening United's lead back to 12 points. 

Match Reflection: Manchester City 2 - 0 Chelsea

City put in top performance to take the spoils

By Aaron Leggott

It was dubbed the biggest match of our season so far, and the players certainly delivered. In a must win game, two incredible goals from Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez secured the three points for Roberto Mancini's men to keep our extremely slim title hopes alive.

In all honesty, City deserved the victory and showed that they wanted victory more than Chelsea, with the visitors only real chance coming from a Frank Lampard penalty.

Saved! Joe Hart keeps out Frank Lampard with a fine stop
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe

The penalty was subsequently saved by Joe Hart as City were very nearly made to pay for their wastefulness in the first half, as Jack Rodwell put in a magnificent performance in his first start since returning from injury.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Chelsea

Kompany still injured ahead of biggest game this season

By Aaron Leggott

Despite a 4-0 win at home to Leeds last weekend, City go into this game on the back of some poor recent league form. 

Picking up just two points from a possible nine has put United in a great position to take the title away from the Blues, and if Mancini's men can't grab a win tomorrow, it will result in the worst run of league form since November 2009, when the club went on a run of seven consecutive draws in the Premier League.

Match Reflection: Manchester City 4 - 0 Leeds

Competent performance sees City qualify

By Aaron Leggott

Goals from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero secured a comfortable route into the FA Cup quarter finals for City yesterday as the Blues swooped past Leeds with consummate ease.

The tie was arguably over within just 15 minutes when Aguero calmly finished from 12 yards after being fouled just moments before by Tom Lees, doubling City's advantage following Yaya Toure's opener 10 minutes previously.

Goal! Aguero was my man of the match today after scoring twice
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe

The Leeds showing was a performance which the travelling fans did not deserve, as the 6,000 strong support stuck behind their team, even if their manager didn't get similar recognition.

Chants of "Warnock Warnock time to go" could clearly be heard throughout the second half as the United faithful become increasingly disillusioned at life under Warnock at the helm.

But as poorly as Leeds played, you cannot take away the praise that City's play deserved. It is a rare occasion to see Roberto Mancini's side come out of the blocks so quickly, but this is perhaps a determined side looking to push on after the humiliating performance at Southampton.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Leeds United

Under pressure?
Photo: Scott Heavey/Getty Images Europe

Mancini is up for the cup!

By Aaron Leggott

City boss Roberto Mancini is expected to make a number of changes ahead of the critical FA Cup clash at home to Leeds tomorrow.

Mancini, who was less than impressed after last weekend's abysmal performance at St Mary's, knows that this competition must be taken seriously with United extending the gap at the top of the league to 12 points.

The Italian has also rubbished rumours that he could be set to be sacked if City fail to beat the Championship side on Sunday afternoon.

With Vincent Kompany still suffering from a calf strain picked up during City's fourth round win at the Britannia, it is expected that Matija Nastasic will come into the squad to partner Joleon Lescott at the heart of City's defence.

Match Preview: Southampton vs Manchester City

The return of the Toure brothers...

By Aaron Leggott

Last weekend's draw at home to Liverpool put a huge dent in City's hopes to retain the Premier League title, as the gap between the sides was stretched to nine points.

It has created a similar situation to the one we put ourselves in last season, where our defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Easter Sunday made winning the league almost impossible. 

Roberto Mancini and his backroom staff know that they have to approach every game with a must-win mentality if we are to pip our rivals to the title for the second consecutive season. 

Match Reflection: Stoke 0 - 1 Manchester City

Fan favourite Zabaleta puts City through

By Aaron Leggott

After grabbing his third goal of the season at the Britannia Stadium yesterday, Pablo Zabaleta once again staked his claim as one of the greatest model professionals in the world at the moment. And this just isn't the opinion of Manchester City fans. 

Zabaleta celebrates after grabbing the winner against Stoke
Photo: Christopher Lee/Getty Images Europe

Ian Ladyman, Northern Football Correspondent at the Daily Mail, was quick to praise the Argentinian full back with the following tweet:

"I'm supposed to be neutral but Pablo Zabaleta is a wonderful man and a very valuable footballer."

And Ladyman wasn't the only one. On the ITV FA Cup highlights show last night, both Clarke Carlisle and Gordon Strachan agreed with the sentiments of presenter Matt Smith, who said that every manager would love a team of Zabaleta's.

Match Preview: Stoke vs Manchester City

Can City end a run of draws at the Britannia?

By Aaron Leggott

Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe

Speculation regarding the future of Mario Balotelli has been the most newsworthy information coming out of the Etihad Stadium this week, with reports heavily linking him to his boyhood club, AC Milan.

However, with his agent quick to deny any move for the Italian, it seems that Balotelli is set to stay put at City at least until the end of the season.

Along with the rumours that Txiki Begiristain wants Roberto Mancini to move towards the infamous 4-3-3 formation used consistently by Txiki's former club Barcelona, there has been less of a focus on this weekends FA Cup tie at the Britannia Stadium.

The two sides meet in the competition for the first time since Yaya Toure won Manchester City the trophy at Wembley in May 2011, and the Potters will be looking for some revenge to that disappointing day in the capital.