Manchester City will be a top team like Real Madrid in 10 years

Posted Monday, September 17, 2012 by Sports.yahoo.com

Roberto Mancini admits that his Manchester City side is nowhere near as big or successful as Real Madrid but expects the two to be on the same level in the next decade.

City travels to the Santiago Bernabeu for both club's opening game in this year's Champions League group stage, with the Italian hopeful that his team can put on a good display in the Spanish capital after suffering a disappointing exit in the same round last season.

Madrid boss Jose Mourinho — who once replaced Mancini at Inter — insisted ahead of the game that the EPL side's money could not buy the history that his club boast.

Mancini reacted by telling reporters: "It's clear we don’t have the history like Real Madrid but Manchester City have won some trophies. We want to win now. In the next 10 years we'll be a top team like Real."

The English title-holder has been linked with a swoop for Madrid's Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has claimed to be "unhappy" at the Bernabeu and Mancini expects it to be tough facing the forward on Tuesday.

"If they leave Cristiano at home it’s better," the City boss continued. "Players like Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are difficult to mark. These are players that score every game.

"It's difficult because at this moment Ronaldo and Messi are the best players in the world."