With no game this weekend, attentions have diverted to other topics of discussion – of which there are plenty.
We’ll kick off with Bernardo Silva’s comments on the spine-tingling prospect of securing the Premier League title in April’s Manchester derby.
Quoted in an article by Goal, the Portugal star declared: “It would be special for the fans because there’s a big rivalry between the two clubs.
“We just want to win the competition because it means a lot and if you can win it against a big rival, it’s even more special.
“If you’d have told me in August we’d arrive in March with a 16-point advantage over second place, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“So, it means we’re doing an amazing job.
“Normally the Premier League is so competitive with six clubs fighting for the title. So, to have so many points and be so far ahead of the other opponents is great.”
Bernardo also asserted he hopes to help City to achieve sustained dominance.
“That is a big motivation,” he added. “It’s not easy but we want to win the title this season; do it again next season and the next and the next.
“We have a good squad and an amazing manager. However, our rivals will probably change a few things so it will be very tough.
“There’s United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and also Liverpool, who are playing very well and building a good team as well, but we will try to build a legacy because we feel we have the conditions to do it.”
So, can City do it on a cold and (possibly) wet Monday night in Stoke?
Potters manager Paul Lambert has told press he has plans to prove otherwise.
As the Manchester Evening News report, he insisted: “On any given day you can win a game of football.
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“If I go back to my own playing career, did anyone give Borussia Dortmund a chance against the great Juve side in ‘97? Probably not.
“Probably everybody and their dog thought Juve would win. In a one-off game you can win and that is the beauty of football. We’ll do everything we can to try to win.
“I know it will be incredibly tough, but also we have to try to entertain as well and try to make it a game that they don’t really want.
“If we try to play football the same way they do, then we will be beat – that is the reality. We have to have an idea of another way to try to beat them.
“We have to be really strong, not just defensively. I think we have to defend from the front. We have to be strong in midfield, strong in defence and the goalkeeper is going to have to have a great game.
“There’s not too many teams that have not conceded against them (only three in 37 league and cup games in open play) and I’m talking European sides as well.
“So, we have to be strong, but we also have to find a way that we can hurt them as well, and I think that is important.
“I have ideas in my head. Obviously, we won’t have much of the ball but when we do have it, we have to be ruthless with it and try and hurt them and take them out of their zone of being comfortable. We know we are going to have to be right on our game.”
In other news, the Daily Express claim City battling Real Madrid for the signature of £18million-rated Lautaro Martinez.
According to Steve Millar: “Atletico Madrid are reported to be in advanced talks for Martinez, 20, who is currently starring for Racing Club in his homeland.
“But Real Madrid and both Milan clubs won’t give up without a fight with City closely monitoring the situation as Martinez confirms that he will be leaving Racing when the season ends.
“Martinez, nicknamed ‘The Bull’ because of his strength, has been compared to Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta but the hit-man sees himself as another version of Radamel Falcao.
“He moved to Racing when he was 16 and is tipped to be included in Argentina’s World Cup squad this summer in Russia.
“Martinez rejected a loan move to Real two years ago and wouldn’t turn his back at this stage on a new venture in the Premier League.”
