City urged to take Barca route to the top

Sylvinho believes that Manchester City can reach the top by copying the attitude of his former club Barcelona.

The Brazilian veteran made his first league start for City in the 3-3 draw with Bolton at the weekend, in place of injured England defender Wayne Bridge, and is set to continue in the side for Wednesday’s trip to Tottenham.

The left back, who used to play for Tottenham’s local rivals Arsenal, feels that replicating the attitude of his old team can help City achieve their lofty ambitions.

He said: “We can learn from the Barcelona way. They play the same way every game. They play the same against Chelsea as they do against a third or fourth division side in Spain.”

Wednesday’s encounter at White Hart Lane sees two teams with pretensions of the top four going head to head and will be seen as a key indicator on which has the best chance of making the leap into the Champions League.

Tottenham go into the game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves, while City are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions but have managed just 11 points from their last nine Premier League matches.

But Sylvinho insists progress is being made as manager Mark Hughes attempts to turn the massive investment of the club’s Abu Dhabi owners into success on the pitch.

“The club is moving in the right direction,” the defender said. “We are changing the mentality of a whole club, not just 25 players

“I was upset when Wayne was hurt because he is part of the future at City but I enjoyed the game at Bolton.

“I felt I had a good connection with Craig Bellamy and Robinho, and I am ready to play again at Tottenham if selected.

“Hopefully we will have more confidence to play in the opposition half; that is important.”

City will be without Bellamy, who was red-carded in the Bolton match, at Spurs due to suspension and Nigel de Jong could also miss out as he continues his recovery from swine flu, while Shaun Wright-Phillips is struggling with an ankle problem.

Harry Redknapp did his best to remain upbeat following the weekend home defeat to Wolves but no matter how often the Spurs manager insisted his side?s season would not stand or fall on one result, there was no denying that three crucial points had been dropped.

Spurs’ season started brightly and coming into the Wolves game, Redknapp declared himself delighted with his players? displays in the away draws at Aston Villa and Everton.

But as has happened on so many occasions in the past, Tottenham’s ambitions have been hit by inconsistency and that’s a problem the manager must overcome if they are to fulfil their aim of finishing in the top four.

Victory over City would quickly erase the gloom generated by the Wolves clash that ended with an unpleasant altercation between left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto and a home supporter that is now subject to a police investigation.

“It’s a big game on Wednesday,” admitted Redknapp. “You’ve got to move on, what’s happened has happened.”

Redknapp remains confident that, with all the top teams dropping unexpected points, his side will succeed in qualifying for Europe, although it remains to be seen in which competition.

“I’m not sure whether we’ll get into the Champions League or the Europa League but we’ll get into Europe,” he said. “I’ve never said we are guaranteed to get into the Champions League.

“I can’t take a team over that was bottom of the league when I took over and guarantee it’s going to be a Champions League team, but we still have a great chance.

“Chelsea lost at Wigan, Arsenal lost to somebody, Liverpool lose to teams they should beat, but what can you do. It?s going to be a lot more open at the top.”

Robbie Keane?s ineffective display against Wolves could mean a starting spot for Peter Crouch while Luka Modric is again expected to start on the bench after making his return from a broken leg at the weekend.