As impassioned as his recent comments about Manchester City team-mate Yaya Toure were, Samir Nasri’s view and extremely high opinion was always going to stoke debate.
Nasri claimed the Ivorian would be labelled the best midfielder in the world if he was from Brazil or Argentina. While there is much to admire about the towering 30-year-old’s strengths, and much to support Nasri’s view – particularly a haul of 17 goals this season – it is games like tonight against his former club Barcelona in the Champions League that will define whether Toure ranks above all.
Andres Iniesta and Xavi are feared and respected opponents who have worthy claims to be the very best. There are few to match Toure in English football, but domestic dominance does not make him a world-beater, nor anyone really.
And herein lies a problem at City on the eve of the return leg against a Barcelona side already 2-0 up.
In their pursuit of the biggest prizes, players have gained plaudits that perhaps have made some complacent and believe they are better than they are. Others also need to do more to ensure they can live up to the hype and expectations.
Take goalkeeper Joe Hart. As City won the Premier League two years ago and he established himself as England’s No1, he was lauded at the same level as Iker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer.
A dip in standards and a few high-profile clangers soon humbled Hart and made him realise how hard it is to remain at the top.
For all the finesse of David Silva, he needs to add more goals to his name. The last of his five in this campaign – where City have run riot – came in December. Not good enough for a man of his talent.
Captain Vincent Kompany has been regarded as one of the finest centre-backs around and with manager Manuel Pellegrini banned from the touchline, the Belgian will have to lead and inspire like he never has before – while also keeping Lionel Messi quiet.
Having scored six goals against Barca during his days at Atletico Madrid, Sergio Aguero will be another under scrutiny, and pressure, on his return to Spain.
Pellegrini has hailed the Argentine as the third-best striker in the world, behind Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, after his 26-goal tally. But Aguero has been rusty in two games on his return from a hamstring injury when his side desperately needed him to sparkle.
His performance, and ability to press and penetrate the Barca backline, will be as crucial as the aforementioned quartet if City are to defy the odds tonight.
Reputations are forged in the biggest games and on the biggest stage. Not to belittle the League Cup or even the FA Cup – where City surrendered tamely to Wigan in the quarter-finals on Sunday – it is the Premier League, the Champions League and the World Cup that will reveal just how good they are.
Footballers often talk of a time to ‘stand up and be counted’. Now is that time for City. In terms of their standing as a club and players, a League Cup as their sole success this season will be deemed failure.
