Manchester City may have surrendered their top spot to rivals Manchester United, but they should still be confident of turning it around.
Fate is in their hands
Yes City are three points behind their rivals at present, but if they win all of their remaining games, they should win the league on goal difference. The important factor in City’s favour is that they host the all-important clash of the two teams at the end of April, which many are billing as a title-decider. Of course the club need to be within touching distance of their rivals by time the match arrives, but it could be a game-changer. The home advantage could be key, City have won 20 home games in a row, and United have their work cut out if they go there requiring a win.
Key players to return
City’s title challenge was adversely affected by injuries to key defenders Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott at an important time in the run-in. Kompany has been out since the trip to Sporting Lisbon but is expected to be back for this weekend’s home game with Sunderland. Sergio Aguero is also due back after a foot injury kept him out of the Stoke game, while Lescott may take an extra week to recover, but should be back in time for City’s trip to Arsenal.
Carlos Tevez is just getting started
He has only just returned, and it looks like he is just getting warmed up. Surely it is written in the script for Carlos Tevez to have a crucial say in this year’s title race. Even Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia has said he is fearful of Tevez scoring the winning goal against them. He is being talked up as a potential starter for City’s home game with Sunderland this weekend, where he will hope to score his first goals of the season.
They have a team of winners
Don’t fall for all Sir Alex Ferguson’s talk of experience at United, City have proven winners too. Sure they have players who have never won league titles, like Joe Hart and James Milner, but that will only make them more hungry. City’s Yaya Toure, Nigel de Jong, Kolo Toure, David Pizarro, and Gael Clichy have all won titles in various leagues, including the Premier League, and know the demands of the run-in. Don’t forget too that Roberto Mancini is a league champion as a manager in Serie A with Inter Milan.
United may be beginning to feel the pressure
Against Wolves, Manchester United looked like a team possessed. Against Fulham last night they look nervous and were far from convincing. In fact they were fortunate to escape with a win after referee Michael Oliver failed to award a clear penalty to Fulham late in the match. Any more performances like that and United will be the ones dropping points, which would be a welcome sight to any Manchester City supporter.
Can City win the league?
images: © Smabs Sputzer, © Gene Hunt
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