City purring – and it can Owen-ly get better

GARY OWEN will be at The Etihad on Tuesday night to hopefully witness another “perfect” Manchester City performance.

Boss Pep Guardiola could be tempted to rotate his superstar squad against Bristol City in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

But ex-City star Owen (left) is praying Guardiola fields the usual suspects like David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Co to blast the Robins out of sight and go on to claim the Spanish coach’s first silverware in English football.

Owen admits he has been off his seat during this sensational season and reveals that another City legend, Colin Bell, has been left gobsmacked.

He said: “Of course, City have got to go for it. There’s no option.

“Pep didn’t win a trophy last season and with the squad he has got, they have to win.

“I can’t see a reason why City can’t go on and try to win the Carabao Cup.

“The style of passing you see when these guys are playing is the closest you are going to get to Barcelona – not just when City pass the ball but how quickly they get it back.

“The football is unbelievable.” And it’s not just Owen who has been impressed – the legendary Colin Bell has been too.

Owen added: “I see Colin at the games and he said to me, ‘I don’t see them getting beat’.

“I used to listen one time to the atmosphere at Old Trafford and, Jesus, it was like a library. I tend to realise why now.

“That’s happening exactly the same now at City. It goes quiet because you can’t believe what you are seeing. You are gobsmacked. What City fans have been watching is exceptional.”

STEVE MILLAR