'City are similar to Pep's Barca'

Jack Ottman 6 years ago 2.1k
Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side won the treble in 2010/11. AFP

Manchester City's current form is "similar" to that of Pep Guardiola's fearsome Barcelona side in 2010/11, according to former defender Danny Mills.

Under the stewardship of the former Barcelona boss, City have started this Premier League season unbeaten in 11 games while scoring 38 goals, which sees them top of the table and eight points ahead of Manchester United in second place.

Former City right-back Danny Mills has compared the side's recent form to that of the Guardiola's treble winning squad at Barcelona six years ago.

That year, the Catalan giants won La Liga and overcame Manchester United in the Champions League final with a performance which Sir Alex Ferguson described as "the best team he has ever faced" during his illustrious career at Old Trafford.

"What I've been really impressed by with Pep is that it was always going to take time for him to get used to the Premier League but he's concentrated on people and getting the right people in place," Mills told 'Sky Sports'.

"The way he wants to play has been crucial and he never wants to divert from that. When he came in last season he said this is how I'm going to play, whether it goes good or bad this is how we play in this style, and he's built on that.

"The way that they play I think now is the most similar a team has played since when he was in [managing] that Barcelona side.

"Entertainment wise, they are by far the best team to watch in the Premier League - possibly in Europe."

City boast an embarrassment of attacking riches with Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero playing a leading role in the side this season, but Mills believe David Silva, who has seven assists in 11 appearances, is instrumental to their good form.

"He's absolutely brilliant. He's a genius," added Mills. "His touch, his vision, his ability to pick a pass is sublime.

"When you've got an incredibly fluid front four, five or six, at times, running all over the place he's the player that can pick that pass.

"It's just an outstanding line-up and maybe because of those names he's maybe not quite getting the attention that he would normally get."

Mentioned in the news story

Barcelona
Manchester City
Premier League