City can win Champions League – Silva

IN-FORM playmaker David Silva believes Manchester City are good enough to win the Champions League.

City, the impressive leaders of the Barclays Premier League, can secure a place in the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition with victory in Napoli tonight. That would represent another major step forward for the rapidly-advancing club, but Silva does not intend to stop there.

The Spaniard said: “The Champions League is the level we are aiming for. Now that we have arrived, it is time to enjoy ourselves, make the most of it and show everyone what we can do.

“Last season was key for us. We won our first trophy for 35 years [FA Cup] and qualified for the Champions League, claiming a place amongst the best teams in Europe.”

He added: “We need to improve upon what we have achieved already and keep progressing as a team. We must finish in the top four in the Premier League and secure Champions League football every season. It’s not enough just to do it once. Of course, we’ve got to do well in the Champions League and we should aim to win it. Why not? I don’t think that is out of the question.”

Silva has been the standout performer in the opening months of City’s campaign, even with fierce competition from a number of team-mates in a star-studded squad. The 25-year-old Spanish World Cup-winner admits it took time adjust to English football but now feels he and the team are well settled.

He said: “It took me a while to settle in and get going because it had been a long summer with the World Cup. I wasn’t in the best shape without a regular pre-season. Then there were trips to Mexico and Argentina that messed up the programme a little bit.

“But, bit by bit, I found my rhythm and started to feel better. One of the reasons we’re working better is because this group has settled as well.”

Tonight’s game has long looked like being the key fixture and so it remains. Victory at the intimidating San Paolo Stadium will secure a place in the knockout stages but anything less could leave City needing to beat group leaders Bayern Munich in their last game.