CITY HITMEN EMBARRASS EURO RIVALS
THEY may still be waiting to lift the Champions League, but Manchester City are the undisputed goal kings of Europe.
Their midweek 5-1 trouncing of Atalanta took City’s tally this season to an impressive 43 goals in their 14 games so far.
They are averaging just over three goals a game and no other side in Europe – not even Liverpool, Barcelona or Real Madrid – can match that total. Bayern Munich are closest with 38 from their 13 matches.
City’s forward line bristles with goals, and Raheem Sterling, who hit an 11-minute hat-trick against Atalanta, and Sergio Aguero (below) have already hit double figures.
Sterling has 12 goals in 13 appearances for City this season and Aguero 10 from 10. Aguero is the Premier League’s joint-top scorer with eight and is averaging a goal every 70 minutes in the top flight.
Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva each have four goals, while Riyad Mahrez has three. And defender Nicolas Otamendi claims all their attacking players have goals in them.
“We know our potential in attack,” he said. “Whoever plays – Aguero, Sterling, both Silvas – will have situations and we have to benefit from them, like we did on Tuesday.”
Otamendi returned from his back injury against Atalanta and revealed he had been playing with it since the win over Everton a month ago.
He tried to carry on and played in City’s shock home loss to Wolves before being forced to take a break.
Otamendi, 31, missed Saturday’s win at Crystal Palace, and his return is timely, after makeshift centre-half Rodri suffered a hamstring injury against Atalanta.
“After the international break, I tried to recover from the pain I had in my back,” said the Argentinian centre-half.
“I had a small injury after playing Everton and I kept on playing in the following games.
“Then I had to stop to recover, but now I’m available.”