SAM SETTLES FOR SUCCESS Nasri ready to dazzle as Blues target glory
MAN CITY (2) v FC PORTO (1) Tonight, 5pm – Live on ESPN
SAMIR NASRI claims he is starting to prove that Man City didn’t drop a CLANGER when they shelled out £24million for his talents.
The 24-year-old has taken time to settle at the Etihad Stadium and has made just 15 Premier League starts since his massive summer move from Arsenal.
City boss Roberto Mancini has claimed Nasri needed to improve the defensive side of his game in order to thrive for the Blues.
But the French midfielder has started to establish himself in recent weeks as City close in on the climax to the Premier and Europa League.
The winger maintains he was never concerned about his price tag but accepts it has taken time for him to get used to life in Manchester.
Trust
And he claims he’s taken Mancini’s advice on board and is starting to show what he is capable of.
He said: “It’s always tough when you go to another team – you have to be involved 100 per cent and I wasn’t.
“Now I am starting to be settled and you will see a better Samir every week.
“You have to work when you don’t feel well and not producing what everyone expects.
“I was always confident about my quality and you will see that.
“I never told them to pay £24m, so it’s not me. It was a lot of money but every transfer now has a lot of money.
“What you want to do is to give something to the team and the people who bring you here and trust you. The money and everything isn’t my problem.
“It’s not the same way as playing at Arsenal, but I want to show everyone it wasn’t a mistake.”
City have a clean bill of health for the visit of Porto as they look to clinch a last 16 place.
Yaya Toure, who returned for the first leg in Portugal after missing eight games at the African Nations Cup, is set to start in midfield.
UEFA have announced they’ve opened disciplinary proceedings against Porto for “improper conduct” of their supporters during the first-leg game last week.
City complained of racial abuse towards black players Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure – with some reports suggesting young children had been involved in alleged monkey chants aimed at the City players.