English Premier League: ‘Mancini still has title dream’

City face Tottenham today in hopes of reducing gap with United.

LONDON:

Manchester City assistant manager Brian Kidd has revealed boss Roberto Mancini has not given up on winning the Premier League title despite what he has said in public.

City face Tottenham today knowing a defeat at White Hart Lane, and a win for leaders Manchester United against Aston Villa tomorrow, would confirm Sir Alex Ferguson’s team as champions.

Mancini recently admitted the race was over, but Kidd claims the Italian, inspired by last season’s title-winning campaign, secretly believes it is still possible to overhaul United’s 13-point lead.

“Let’s be honest, the boss has been here just less than four years and he has put silverware on the sideboard,” said Kidd. “And no one believes that he has really given up on the title.

“It was the same last season. We keep working the same, we keep working hard, he is on the pitch every day. It is all about attaining a standard. It is not over. We’re champions so it is not over. As champions you go out with pride.”

Should City fail in their Premier League title defence, as looks increasingly likely, Kidd is well aware it is no fluke that United have wrestled it from them.

Meanwhile, City will check on the fitness of Argentine forward Sergio Aguero and Spanish midfielder David Silva ahead of their clash with Tottenham as both players attempt to recover from hamstring injuries.

Rodgers not scared by ghosts of Benitez

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he was not intimidated by Rafael Benitez as the Chelsea manager prepares for an emotional return to Anfield today.

Ahead of the Spaniard’s first return to Liverpool since his 2010 departure, Rodgers admitted he was not unsettled trying to match Benitez’s achievements.

“They are not intimidating for me,” said Rodgers when asked about the pictures of Benitez. “I said to the players ‘your job is to put yourself on the wall here’.

“If I was only worried about myself then maybe having people around with great histories would worry me. But it doesn’t one bit.”

However, there is a hint of tension in the relationship between Rodgers and Benitez since the Spaniard, whose family still live on Merseyside, expressed his wish to one day return to Liverpool. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2013.