Why Man City are better equipped for Champions League glory than ever before

Manchester City thumped Schalke 7-0 to showcase their Champions League credentials ahead of the quarter-finals.

Nothing to fear

Sergio Aguero's second goal of the night meant Manchester City overtook Paris Saint-Germain to become the new top scorers in the Champions League.

That ultimately gives the club the same number of trophies that a famous atmosphere does, but in a competition where away goals still count but home advantage is seen as increasingly less important being able to score at least one in every game is crucial.

With Aguero and Raheem Sterling prolific and both getting better with every game they play together, coupled with the quality on the wings and in midfield, there is not a side left in the tournament that will fancy their chances of shutting out this attack.

Admittedly, they reached this point last season and then went out to Liverpool in the quarter-final but they really have never looked more equipped to go all the way.

Sterling fits back in with ease

There was a theory among some fans as Sterling was developing at City that he was only comfortable on the right wing, with the thinking that a more central role left him more time to think - and overthink - in front of goal.

Such has been his development though that he is now deployed across the forward line and, with Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez occupying the right-hand side, it feels like a good while since Sterling was utilised in the position he flourished in last season. With Leroy Sane back in the team for Schalke, this was his chance and it was another excellent display as he interchanged with Bernardo on the right flank and roamed inside.

A trademark cutback in the first 15 minutes should really have been finished off by Aguero, but the striker made no mistake when a backheel came his way in the box. Another assist for Sterling, another goal, and another quality performance from one of City's most consistent performers.

VAR still needs work

As if the fans needed another reason to boo at a Champions League game!

The anthem was of course drowned out again, and then the use of VAR brought more jeers from the home support.

City scored three goals in eight minutes, and more than a quarter of that time was used up checking that their goals were legitimate. If offsides for Sterling and Leroy Sane have to be checked by extra pairs of eyes in the new world, it would be nice if they could be a little quicker.

The technology may well ultimately help the game by eradicating incorrect calls yet until UEFA clears up the efficiency of the technology and the clarity of why it is used the complaints about it will be justified.

Rushed in for the knockout rounds after the furore caused by Sterling's penalty against Shakhtar, attempts to explain why penalising Nicolas Otamendi's handball at Schalke were as nuanced as the government's approach to running (or ruining?) the country: penalty means penalty.

To say there was nothing remotely controversial about any of the goals here, the game was needlessly disrupted.