MANCINI'S MEN ARE THE BEST - KIDD

Manchester City have the best squad in the Premier League according to assistant manager Brian Kidd.

With the blues heading into the new year joint top with neighbours United, Roberto Mancini’s number two believes the current crop of players have what it takes to end the 34 year hunt for silverware: "I wouldn't swap our squad now for anybody in the Premier League,” he declared, “ to be honest I wouldn't swap any of our lads for anybody else in the top four or five.”

Kidd believes the second half of the season will see some twists and turns but says the management are more than happy with the current league position: “Our target has always been a top-four place from the start of the season,”  he says, “We're doing OK on that, but nobody's getting carried away, not the boss or the players. We know there's a lot of hard work still to come.”

City’s recent form has impressed Kidd but he believes there is still more to come as Mancini continues to transform a group of talented players into a team capable of bringing glory to Eastlands:  "He demands that we work hard and always look to improve - and we know, like him, that we're not the finished article even though we are going quite well. He won't rest on his laurels and think things are going OK."

With the blues chasing domestic glory and going strong in the Europa League, Kidd says the rotation system used by the Italian is essential to keep players fresh and hungry: “As with all the top teams, and maybe unfortunately for the players, the rotation is necessary due to the number of games you play,” he says, “but hopefully there's some exciting times ahead for Manchester City, with a little bit of luck and hard work I believe silverware will soon come.”