So, let’s get straight into it with a selection of some of the best pieces of writing concerning the Blues’ emphatic start to the Champions League group stage campaign.
The Telegraph’s James Ducker encapsulates the victory in his view of events at the De Kuip as he writes: “This will have been a hard watch for Feyenoord fans but the Dutch know Total Football when they see it and the purist in them must have wanted to doff their caps to Pep Guardiola’s vibrant side.
“The Dutch champions were making their first appearance in the Champions League for 14 years and, let’s face it, looked very much like a Europa League outfit, but City would still have bullied better teams playing like this.
“It says a lot about how Guardiola wants to play and the number of players he commits to attack that centre-half John Stones should open and finish the scoring with two headers, with goals from Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus sandwiched in between.
“There was elegance to City’s play, yes, but it was striking just how physically strong they looked. As relentless as they were ruthless, they refused to give their opponents time to catch their breath. ‘We weren’t ready for that,’ Giovanni van Bronckhurst, the Feyenoord coach, admitted.
The Mirror’s David Anderson continues the theme: “After Rotterdam was buffeted by the tail end of Storm Aileen, Feyenoord were totally blown away by Manchester City.
“This game should have carried a force 10 gale warning for the Dutch champions because of the damage City did.
“Feyenoord were left in tatters as City ripped into them to get their Champions League campaign off to a flying start.
“They were 3-0 up inside 25 minutes, before John Stones headed home his second of the night to complete the scoring in this mismatch in front of a stunned De Kuip.”
Meanwhile, Andy Hampson, writing for the Irish Examiner adds: “Manchester City produced an outstanding performance to open their seventh successive Champions League campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win at Feyenoord.
“John Stones headed two goals with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus also on target as City ran riot at De Kuip to spoil the Dutch champions’ return to the competition after a 15-year absence.
“Stones set the tone for a dominant display by claiming the opener in the second minute and the game was effectively over inside 25 minutes as Aguero and Jesus struck.
“Stones’ second just after the hour wrapped up the victory and left City looking strong already in Group F ahead of back-to-back home games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Napoli.”
Last but not least, The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson makes some succinct observations on the Blues’ display, adding Pep Guardiola’s comments on Kevin De Bruyne as he writes: “City offered a supreme display of attacking in their Group F opener. Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesus both scored, to take the pair to seven goals in five outings in all competitions.
“The manager has insisted they can dovetail, and the Argentinian-Brazilian combo is certainly proving him right.
“The Catalan also showered praise on the ever impressive Kevin De Bruyne. ‘He’s one of the best players I’ve seen in my life, in terms of [being able to do] absolutely everything,’ he said. ‘He’s top, top quality. We are so proud and happy he’s with us.’
“This is some bouquet given that Lionel Messi is among the footballers he has previously coached.
“Pre-match, the City manager was eager to stop ‘dreaming’ of Champions League success, yet his team had a fantasy first-half that ended in a 3-0 lead, the first goal coming after 100 seconds.
“There had been a party atmosphere before kick-off as Feyenoord fans regaled those in attendance with a version of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, but 10 minutes in and City had doubled their lead. Kyle Walker – recruited for just this kind of right-back play – whipped in a cross from which the lethal Agüero hooked home. It was a near-sensational start for City.”
Nicely put.
