CAN BE CITY SLICKERS Barry boosted by summer signings
GARETH BARRY reckons Manchester City’s new boys will help them fly into a key month as they look to assert Premier League dominance and make waves in the Champions League.
England veteran Barry, 31, is hoping for a first appearance of the season after a groin problem when City head for Stoke on Saturday.
After that, Roberto Mancini’s men face Real Madrid in the Bernabeu in their Champions League opener and host Arsenal in the league.
Mancini was gutted about the slow pace of City’s transfer business over the summer, but the Italian got a quartet of new boys through the door before the window slammed shut.
Impressed
After netting Jack Rodwell earlier in August, Mancini snapped up midfielder Javi Garcia, rightback Maicon, winger Scott Sinclair and defender Matija Nastasic.
City have scooped seven points from three games as they look to defend their Premier League title.
And their trip to Spain marks their bid to get beyond the Champions League group stage for the first time in their second-ever campaign.
Rodwell has dropped a couple of clangers in his early games – but Barry has been impressed with the ex-Everton man’s start to life at the Etihad.
City have spent big again and Garcia and Maicon are expected to hit the ground running.
But Barry believes that all of the new boys will have a major role to play in the games to come – which could define City’s season.
“Last year was fantastic and when you play alongside people like David Silva you get to know his game and where he likes to receive the ball.
“Playing with players like that can make your job so much easier, so you can bounce off other players sometimes and it can be good for you and them.
“I know Jack better because he’s an English guy and has been playing in the Premier League for a few years.
“He’s done really well and he seems to have bedded in nicely.
“I’m sure that the longer he’s here and the more games he plays, he’ll get better and better.
“I don’t know that much about Javi yet – but I have done a bit of individual training with him.
“He’s a really good player and I’m sure that he’ll adapt quickly.”