Nigel De Jong: Now it’s do or die for Manchester City

Nigel De Jong knows Manchester City can still seal a Champions League berth

NIGEL DE JONG has labelled this week as “do or die” for Manchester City as Roberto Mancini seeks to secure the first tangible rewards of Sheikh Mansour’s money-flushed revolution.

Manchester City can seal a Champions League berth with a win over Tottenham tomorrow and know they can go on to lift a first piece of silverware since 1976 in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Stoke.

Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at Everton has left Mancini’s reign under renewed scrutiny and De Jong is acutely aware of what is at stake over the coming days.

“This is a very important week for the club, the players and the fans. This is do or die for Manchester City,” said Holland midfielder Nigel De Jong, who saw Spurs wreck City’s hopes of a top-four finish at Eastlands 12 months ago.

“Fourth place is in reach and everything is in our hands. We just have to win that game. We then have a chance to be winners after 35 years. We just have to learn from this game.

“It was tough at the beginning of the season and we had a lot of new signings to settle in. Now we have an opportunity to get that Champions League place and clinch our first piece of silverware.

“That was the reason everyone came to this club. We have to think what we did wrong against Everton, take the mistakes out and if we do, we can be fourth and FA Cup winners.”