The Manchester city midfielder James Milner has said that it is about time the club started to perform well in the European competitions after dominating the domestic league for the last two seasons. Manchester city may have won the Premier league title for the first time in more than 40 years last season, but they have been disappointing in Europe under the manager Roberto Mancini. They have failed to get past the group stages of the Champions League last season, while they are in danger of repeating the same feat this time around as well. The 3-1 defeat against Ajax last week meant that Manchester city have just one point from the first three matches.

Given that will be facing against clubs like Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the remaining three matches, it looks highly unlikely that they will be able to qualify for the last 16 stage. Not progressing from the group stages this time around as well will mean disastrous consequences for the team because they will not gain any seeding positions for the next Champions league draw. After the end of the Ajax match, the Manchester city midfielder James Milner has called for better performances from the players in Europe.

“Although the score was 3-1 we had enough chances to score more goals, but we weren’t clinical enough. We need to make sure there is not pressure on the strikers to score in every game. Goals have got to come from all over the park. When you are playing in the Champions League and you get chances you have to take them. If you have spirit you have the quality to play Champions League,” said the former Newcastle and Aston Villa midfielder. City will also know how to deal with the injury to the defender Micah Richards.

The Manchester city midfielder James Milner has said that he would absolutely love England opening the scoring early on in the game in the match against Ukraine. England will be taking on Ukraine in the second World Cup qualifying match. They come into the match with confidence flowing through the veins following the 5-0 victory over Moldova a few days ago. It was a match that showed England at their best, but James Milner has said that they should not be taking Ukraine very likely. The two teams only recently met each other at the Euro 2012 and the game finished as a draw.

He has said that one of the main reasons England were not able to get a result against Ukraine are to the Euro 2012 was not because of the bad performance, but because of the lack of an early goal. He reckons that if England repeated the same kind of performance against Moldova and score an early goal, then it would be relatively easy for Roy Hodgson’s men. James Milner recently scored his first goal of the senior level in the match against Moldova. However, a number of high profile players like John Terry and Ashley Cole will be absent for this match.

“It will be slightly different but the majority of the squads will be very similar. This time it is on our home turf and we need to make sure we put in a good performance, they showed over the summer they are no pushovers – they are a strong side with a number of good players. We need to be on the top of our game. Hopefully we can get an early goal again, settle down and play some football,” said the Manchester city midfielder, who has made a great start to the new season.

James Milner has said that it would be tough for Manchester City to defend the Premier League title in the upcoming season. City had won the Premier League title in the last season. This was the first Premier League title for City in the last 44 years. As per Milner, it is hard to go at the top, but, it is even harder to stay at the top. However, the midfielder also said that the team has got enough potential to do it again. But, for this, the players have to show good temperament and they have to hold their nerves in the vital matches.

Milner had joined Manchester City in 2010. City bought him from Aston Villa after paying a transfer fee of 24 million pounds. He played his first match for City against Liverpool. In his very first match for City, he assisted in a goal. City defeated Liverpool by 3-0 in that match. He didn’t get many opportunities to play in the 2010-11 season, but, in the last season, he got regular chances to play in the first team and he delivered for the club. He played in 26 matches for City in the last season and assisted in a number of goals. On being asked about his personal targets in the 2012-13 season, Milner said that he always plays for the team and the personal milestones don’t matter for him. He doesn’t have any personal target. He just wants City to defend the Premier League title.

A few days ago, there were rumors about the transfer of Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli from City, but, both the players eventually decided to stay with the English Club. On being asked about that, Milner said that both the players had played well in the Premier League in the last season. So, it’s good that they are not leaving the club in this season. Had they decided to leave, it would have hampered the team a bit.