Manchester City v Tottenham Preview

Posted Wednesday, May 05, 2010 by sportinglife.aol.co.uk

No Regrets for Patrick Vieira

PREMIER LEAGUE: EASTLANDS, WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 2010. KICK-OFF: 2000 BST

MANCHESTER CITY:
Patrick Vieira has been involved in some titanic games during his illustrious career.

The former Arsenal icon would have been preparing for a Champions League final had he remained at Inter Milan in January yet the lure of a Premier League return has left him featuring in a game of equal importance as far as Manchester City are concerned.

The equation is simple for a club that has been forced to live in the shadows of more successful neighbours for years.

Follow up victory against Tottenham with three points at Carlos Tevez's former club West Ham on the last day and City will join Manchester United in the Champions League next season.

They will still have to negotiate a two legged play off in August before entering the group stages but it is a case of one step at a time as far as Viera is concerned.

"I am really pleased that Inter are in the final because I am still in contact with some of the players and I am really proud of what they have done," said the World Cup, European Championship, Premier League and FA Cup winner.

"I don't know which achievement would be greater, but as a club, Manchester City should be proud of every single one of its players.

"When you start a season, you set yourself a target based on the players you have in the dressing room and, with the players we have, the target has to be the Champions League.

"The club made it very clear they wanted the Champions League and we are really close. We will have to fight for it and it will not be easy. But we can do it now."

Vieira admits he has struggled to produce his best since arriving four months ago but he knows a good performance against Tottenham will help endear him with City supporters.

"I don't feel like I have been doing what I am capable of, but it is a good time now for me to show that they have made the right decision," he added.

"My future? That is out of my hands.

"In my head it is very clear what I want to achieve, though. To get this club to fourth spot and then we will see what will happen.

"I have not been playing at my best and I have not given what the people who brought me to the club expected. But it is never too late and Spurs is another big game."

Strategy: Roberto Mancini has told his players that they can change history if they defeat Tottenham. Victory will put City two points clear of Spurs with one game remaining. A tense night awaits at Eastlands but Mancini will call on his players to hold their nerve and not panic. The Italian knows there will be moments when his side are under the cosh but Saturday's comeback victory over Aston Villa showed City have the character to bounce back from setbacks. "All the players have worked for this," said Mancini. "I know this is an important moment for the club."

Injury Update: Joleon Lescott will feature again this season because of a hamstring problem that has put a question mark over the defender's inclusion in Fabio Capello's England World Cup squad. There is more positive news concerning Gareth Barry. After the midfielder missed last Saturday's victory against his former club with Aston Villa, Barry has returned to training after a hamstring problem and should be avilable.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
Harry Redknapp's side are a point ahead of Manchester City in the race for the final Champions League place but the manager insists his side will not feel any additional pressure ahead of their trip to Eastlands.

Victory for Spurs and they will secure fourth place in the Premier League but anything less and the battle will go to the final weekend of the season.

"There's no pressure because we didn't go into the season expecting this," Redknapp said. "We hoped. The only team realistically expecting to break into the top four would have been Manchester City. So there's no real pressure on us.

"If I had been offered this at the start of the season I would have taken it, of course."

Redknapp expects City, bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour's billions, to challenge for the title sooner rather but feels Spurs deserve fourth place this season.

"It's getting closer and tighter, every year," he said. "City will always be knocking on the door and Liverpool will come back next year stronger. Aston Villa and Everton were unlucky, so it's going to be tight.

"It's a good opportunity this year so finishing four will be no more than we deserve. The boys have done great and played some great football, the way we pass and move the ball around, and there are exciting times ahead.

"It's great to be involved in something at this stage of the season, a massive game for us. We've been up there all year trying to break in the top four and it would be nice to finish there. It will be tight and tough. Now it's down to two and it's amazing we're involved together.

"It's worked out perfectly for television and everybody else. It's got the makings of a great game. They are a great team with good home form."

Strategy: Despite a point being a good result for Spurs, Redknapp insists he will field an attacking line-up. He has naturally attacking players and is wary about inviting City to push forward. They will look to get the ball wide as their in-form players are Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, while Aaron Lennon could make his first start following a groin injury.

Injury update: Redknapp is confident of Heurelho Gomes being fit despite suffering a groin injury in the victory over Bolton at the weekend. "We are very hopeful," the Spurs manager said. "The big man should be okay." Ledley King will require the usual late check on his knee but Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar are ruled out.