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City can rival best, says title rival
Manchester City, 10:23, October 23, 2009 ,
Chelsea star Frank Lampard has hailed Man City and revealed he expects them to be challenging for a top-four place this season.
Lampard has been impressed by the way Mark Hughes' side has started the new campaign after spending big in the summer and believes they can become the first team since Everton in 2005 to break the 'Big Four' monopoly and qualify for the Champions League.
The England midfielder said: "Every year one of the Evertons, Villas or Tottenhams do very well and everyone says it is under threat but normally the four rise to the top.
"I think Man City will be different, I think they will stay the course. If you spend £150million then you should stay the course.
"We did the same here six years ago and it wasn't easy in year one. Year two and year three is where you really gauge progress and I am sure they are looking at the same things we were at that time.
"They have bought players who have been there before. Individually, if you look at them - Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor - they have been in very successful teams before anyway so I don't think that it is the issue.
"It is just the idea of throwing it all together which is not always easy, but they can do it for sure."