LONDON • Little over 60 hours after their extraordinary Champions League drama, Manchester City and Tottenham will face each other again at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow, this time in the Premier League.
City's dream of a quadruple of titles ended with their away-goals loss to Spurs on Wednesday.
The destiny of the English title remains in the hands of Pep Guardiola's side, however, and they know that if they win their remaining five games, they will retain their title.
Yet this is now a major test of their character after what was a crushing exit from Europe. A late Raheem Sterling goal that would have sent City through was ruled out for offside following a review by the video assistant referee.
Said Guardiola: "We have to stand up and react. It is a (short) time and the same team. We can't think too much now. We have to try to sleep as much as possible and prepare for the game."
City have won the League Cup and will face Watford in the final of the FA Cup, meaning a treble remains a realistic objective.
"We have fought for nine or 10 months in the Premier League and still we are there. It is in our hands. Today is tough and tomorrow will be tough too but, the day after, we will be ready," added the Spaniard.
City are on 83 points and two behind leaders Liverpool, but have a game in hand - although it is at city rivals Manchester United next Wednesday.
Liverpool will expect to pick up three points at Cardiff on Sunday, although the 18th-placed team have been boosted by Tuesday's win at Brighton that kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.
City winger Bernardo Silva said there is no time to wallow in misery, as he rallied his teammates to give a final push for domestic glory.
"We have a game in three days against Tottenham, again here at home," said the 24-year-old.
"We need the three points to win (the league). Obviously, we are very disappointed, but we will have to forget about it and go for the competitions we are still in.
"It is not time for revenge; it is time for another competition, time to keep us alive in the title race.
"We will try to win the game in the same way we did, knowing we are playing against a very good team.
"We know Liverpool will probably win all their games, so we have to win all our games too."
Third-placed Spurs have plenty to play for as well. The battle for a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League is tight with Arsenal and Chelsea just a point behind and sixth-placed United three points adrift.
REUTERS
Match Of The Week: Home United's interim coach Noh Rahman is not resting on his laurels. Home United interim coach Noh Rahman won two league titles (2001, 2002), two Singapore Cups (2012, 2013
Match Of The Week: Home United's interim coach Noh Rahman is
Air accident investigators said on Monday they had found the wreckage of the missing aircraft carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala on the seabed near Guernsey and that a body was
Rescuers end search for plane carrying missing soccer star
"Kepa should be sacked, not Sarri": Pundits split on Chelsea's latest crisis Mourinho defends the mutinous goalkeeper while Aluko says his actions make her blood boil.
Kepa 'should be sacked', Football News & Top Stories - The
Liverpool extend lead at top, Arsenal slip up at West Ham There was no such slip up from Liverpool though, even if Brighton did not make it easy for the league leaders. having mustered
Premier League: Jurgen Klopp Points To Injuries As Lacklustre
Juventus would see highly successful manager Massimiliano Allegri part ways with them at the end of the Serie A season. He has been one of their most successful manager, having won five Serie A
Massimiliano Allegri: Juventus manager leaving Serie A
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar
Napoli could finish the weekend trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 11 points after Carlo Ancelotti's wasteful side stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Fiorentina, as Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal to get Inter Milan back winning against promoted Parma. Napoli Stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez Gets Inter Back Winning.
Napoli stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez gets Inter back winning
FA Cup Roundup: Manchester United, Chelsea through to next round with easy wins Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed his fifth successive victory since being named interim manager as his much-changed side beat second-tier strugglers Reading 2-0 at home in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Manchester United see off Arsenal to maintain Solskjær's
Barcelona would have won the title with a win and Dani Alves went close with a fierce drive, but Atletico held on. the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly in Spanish football. The draw meant
LIVE Transfer Talk: Real Madrid close in on €50m Mendy
LONDON (REUTERS) - AFC Wimbledon delivered an FA Cup fourth-round shock as the League One strugglers humbled Premier League West Ham United 4-2 in a gripping tie in south-west London on Saturday
AFC Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 31, 2019, with the headline 'Start off well, Solskjaer tells United after winning run ends'. Print Edition
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer misses out on history as Man Utd winning
Son Heung-min earned a penalty and then assisted on his team's second goal to help South Korea beat China 2-0 at the Asian Cup help South Korea beat China 2-0 in Group Asian Cup win 3-1
Son Heung-min helps South Korea beat China 2-0 at Asian Cup
0 comments:
Post a Comment