Manuel Pellegrini could not have been more satisfied with the convincing 4-0 win over Newcastle while reserving special praise for Edin Dzeko who was the best City player on the pitch.
Goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri eased City to their first win of the English Premier League season, while also making a statement to their title rivals in the manner in which they cut Newcastle apart, who were forced to play with ten men for the entire second half after Steven Taylor was sent off.
"The most pleasing aspect was the way the team played for 90 minutes, from the beginning the attitude was aggressive and we continued to play that way for the whole match," Pellegrini, who gave debuts to Premier League Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo, said.
"It's a very good start but I was very confident that the team would play well, we worked very hard during pre-season, we were trying another style of football and maybe we must continue to improve but for the first match, it was good."
Pellegrini was especially pleased with the form shown by Dzeko and believes the Bosnian can finally start to hit the heights expected from him when he made a big money move from Wolfsburg a couple of seasons ago.
"I trust Edin Dzeko. It was a pity he didn't score because he had a lot of chances and he played very well," Pellegrini added. "We knew with the ball that he's a very good player but he played very well without the ball tonight. He had some important chances and he deserved to score today (Monday).
"I spoke to him when I first arrived and I told him that he will do very well for us. I am sure we are now going to see the Edin Dzeko that City bought from Wolfsburg two years ago."
Newcastle manager, who left out midfielder Yohan Cabaye after a bid from Arsenal was rejected, felt his side coped well against City until the unnecessary red card.
"I have to say I thought we gave a good account of ourselves up until the sending-off," he said. We'd threatened their goal, but the sending-off made it a really difficult night for us and you don't want that on the first day.
"It was a silly challenge from Tayls, it was out of character for him, and then we had to work and grind in the second half, which we did. I just thought it was a silly action, and I can't really defend him on it, if I'm honest. I know he's a proper fella and he wouldn't mean to be malicious to the guy.
"I don't think we've got too much to be concerned about. We need to put a team out that's a lot more offensive at home, and we won't have that kind of opposition, although West Ham are in good shape.
"It's one out of 38 games, and it's important we try and win the two home games that are coming up."
