We can compete with elite - Mancini

City are on course for a top-four finish in the Barclays Premier League this term which will hand them the chance to take on Europe's elite in 2011-12.

It would be the club's first appearance in the Champions League, but Mancini does not see that necessarily being a problem for his star-studded squad.

"When you play in the Champions League for the first time, maybe you can have problems, but when I played for Sampdoria 20 years ago we got to the final (of the old European Cup) the first time we qualified," he said.

"In football, never say never - anything can happen. It is clear that we are not like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Milan or Inter, teams that have played in the Champions League for a long time.

"But after this year, if we do well in the Europa League, it will be a good experience and all our players play for their national teams."

Source: PA

Source: PA