Manchester City: 10 Reasons Why City Will Be a Hit in the Champions League
After finishing third in the Premier League last season, Manchester City earned their place amongst Europe's elite
They have qualified for the group stages of the Champions League and will be playing in the continent's biggest competition for the first time.
Here we take a look at 10 reasons why the Sky Blues will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
We look at players, the manager, the owner and other contributing factors to the club's first Champions League campaign.
10. Squad Morale
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This current squad is a very close-knit unit.
The team have a number of natural leaders in its ranks, and their desire to win seems to have an infectious effect.
Although there were a number of bust ups within camp last season, it was because of this desire that the majority of these scuffles occurred—Mario Balotelli was responsible for the rest!
The likes of Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany care deeply about the club, and they are invested in the project that Roberto Mancini and Sheik Mansour have put together over the last year.
9. The Supporters
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The club's supporters have suffered over the years—myself included—but the tide looks to have turned.
Considered some of the best and most loyal in Britain, the City faithful will be wherever their team have to play on the continent next season.
The unique followers, who have his season adopted the Poznan on their European travels, are as passionate and loud as any in Europe.
Champions League nights at Eastlands next season will be something to behold.
8. The Drought Is over
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When Manchester City lifted the FA Cup last season it had massive psychological implications for the future of this expensive team.
After 35 years without lifting a major trophy, the drought is over.
The longer the team went without a trophy the harder it would have got to shake the tag.
Now the concentration can turn to adding to the FA Cup, instead of winning their first trophy of the Sheik's era a the club.
This team have superb potential, and I would put good money on them adding to the trophy collection next season.
I'm not necessarily saying that City will win the Champions League next season, but they will come close in Europe's premier competition very soon.
7. 4-3-3
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When Roberto Mancini arrived at Eastlands in at the end of 2009, the side lacked a direction and seemed that after a record amount of consecutive draws a new direction was needed.
The Italian's first job was to shore up the defence,he has achieved that with City have one of he best defences in Europe.
His next was to find a formation that would work for the players at his disposal.
He succeeded with this also, deciding on the popular 4-3-3.
Allowing the likes of Nigel De Jong and Gareth Barry to protect the back four, and Yaya Toure and David Silva to support the strikers.
The formation is effective in European competition, and it will allow City to fit right into the Champions League.
6. Yaya Toure
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Yaya Toure is a very important element to the current Manchester City side.
The Ivorian as a taste for the big games.
His experience will be invaluable when entering the group stages.
The scorer of the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Stoke City, Toure is one of the most important players in the squad.
A previous winner of the Champions League with Barcelona, Yaya Toure will be indispensable.
5. Summer Signings
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After such a successful season you would think that Roberto Mancini would be happy with his current squad.
But there will be a number of players who will be on their way out of the club this summer.
Mancini will look to improve the quality of player he can choose this season.
A playmaker is near the top of the wish-list and the likes of Luka-Modric and Javier-Pastore are amongst those who have been linked with the club during the summer.
Whoever comes in they need to be ready for a fight to get into the side.
Mancini has a good record in the transfer market and hopefully that's set to continue.
4. Carlos Tevez
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The summer is going to be full of will he stay, will he go rumours.
But captain Carlos Tevez remains a massive part of Manchester City.
He has experience of playing in the Champions League, he is a world-class footballer and he can lead this Manchester City side into a successful new era.
If he and one of the other strikers—Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli—can strike up a partnership who knows how far this City team can go.
3. Vincent Kompany
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Vincent Kompany is a leader.
It is as simple as that. He is the "real" captain of this City side.
In essence this is his City side.
After a superb season at centre-back, the vice captain swept all before him at the clubs awards dinner.
Collecting the Supporters Player of the Year and the Players Player of the Year.
Roberto Mancini is a huge fan and Kompany has the ability to become one of the best defenders in Europe.
A small amount of Champions League experience during his time with first club Anderlecht, he will be crucial to Manchester City next term.
2. Sheik Mansour
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The man and the money behind this ambitious project.
Since his arrival at the club during the summer of 2008, he has oversaw a revolution in Manchester.
With money seemingly no object, he can give his team of Khaldon Al Mubarak, Garry Cook and Brian Marwood the nod to broker any deal that they see fit.
With new UEFA rulings coming into play it seems that another summer of spending could be on the cards.
1. Roberto Mamcini
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The main man. The person who has made this dream possible.
The Italian has completely reformed the club in a such a short space of time after entering the club on dubious grounds after the suspect sacking of Mark Hughes.
But Mancini has wrote himself into folklore at the club, ending the trophy drought and bringing together a team that looks capable of mounting a serious challenge both at home and abroad.
Mancini has a personal barrier to overcome in the Champions League too. After failing to progress in the competition with Inter Milan, all eyes will again be on him as he looks to steer City to success.
