Source: SKY_Sports
Ireland hails City mentality
Stephen Ireland believes the attitude in the Manchester City camp is geared towards success this season.
Much is expected of the Blues in the 2009/10 campaign, with the Abu Dhabi United Group having bankrolled a substantial summer spending spree.
A 2-0 victory on the opening day at Blackburn bodes well, with the new arrivals slipping seamlessly into Mark Hughes' side.
There is still a lot of work to be done before City can claim to be a Premier League force to be reckoned with, but the early signs are positive.
Ireland accepts that the Blues must continue to improve if they are to compete for major honours, but he feels the club are better prepared to challenge this term than they were 12 months ago.
"We are nowhere near the finished product but this was a good start for us," he said following Saturday's impressive showing at Ewood Park.
Bad habits
"The difference between this season and the last is the team spirit.
"From the moment we arrived back for pre-season the manager has been drumming it in to us about how we had to be better and mentally stronger this season.
"He said we had to have a better attitude and he was right. There were some bad habits in this squad last season.
"The manager and the coaches were trying to get us out of them last season but because we were in Europe and had so many games and so much travelling I always felt as though we just didn't have enough time on the training field and away from match situations to sort it out and put things right.
"What he has done this time is get players who have the right attitude. They are quality players of high calibre but they are also winners and that's the difference.
"These guys are inspirational. There is a hunger there and a desire and they have the right approach to everything. I want to play with these players. This journey is only just beginning."
