Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes that finishing fourth or even third would show rivals the club are now serious challengers for future league titles.
City finished fifth in the Premier League last season as they lost out in the race for the last Champions League place to Tottenham thanks in part to a Peter Crouch goal at Eastlands, however with it looking likely that it will be the same two sides who battle it out again, City are very much in the driver’s seat.
Given, who has played second fiddle to Joe Hart this season, believes if City do reach the Champions League, Europe’s elite will sit up and take notice.
Speaking to Abu-Dhabi based newspaper The National, the Republic of Ireland international said: “It would be a huge statement to other European clubs.
"It would show we are going to be around for a long time and that we are going to be the team to watch over the coming years.
"The club would be able to attract more players in the summer and keep some of the ones we already have happy.
"Everyone wants to play in the Champions League. It would have been fantasy stuff to the fans a few years ago to think City might have teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid at Eastlands.
“Now there is a realistic chance of it happening."
However, if City hope to reach the biggest club competition in the world, their recent form will have to be reversed as the club have picked up just two wins in their last seven league matches.
Given continued: “We started the season wanting to win the league; you've got to aim high.
"It looks like we're going to fall a bit short of that. The next best thing is to get in the Champions League. Nobody wants to finish fourth; they want to finish at the top.
"But as the season has progressed we've dropped too many points and it looks as though the most realistic chance is the Champions League."
Showing posts with label English Primier League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English Primier League. Show all posts
Manchester City's Shay Given Believes Champions League Qualification Would Make A 'Huge Statement'
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Liverpool Tracking Real Sociedad's Xabi Prieto - Agent
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Liverpool are tracking Real Sociedad’s skilful right winger Xabi Prieto, according to the player’s agent.
The 27 year old has been a key player for several years and has only ever played for his hometown club, so far amassing over 200 league appearances.
The former Spanish Under-21 international was expected to leave the club in 2007 after the Basque putfit were relegated to the Spanish Segunda division, however he stayed on and proved to be a vital asset in the team that was promoted back to La Liga last season.
His agent, Miguel Angel Cermeno has claimed that his performances over the last 18 months have attracted many suitors, with one of them being Liverpool.
Speaking to Marca, he said: “No one has been in contact with me yet, although it is true that they [Liverpool] are interested and there have been a few Liverpool scouts watching him at various games.”
It is believed it would take a bid of about £10 million (€11.5m) to persuade the Real Sociedad board to part with their star man.
The 27 year old has been a key player for several years and has only ever played for his hometown club, so far amassing over 200 league appearances.
The former Spanish Under-21 international was expected to leave the club in 2007 after the Basque putfit were relegated to the Spanish Segunda division, however he stayed on and proved to be a vital asset in the team that was promoted back to La Liga last season.
His agent, Miguel Angel Cermeno has claimed that his performances over the last 18 months have attracted many suitors, with one of them being Liverpool.
Speaking to Marca, he said: “No one has been in contact with me yet, although it is true that they [Liverpool] are interested and there have been a few Liverpool scouts watching him at various games.”
It is believed it would take a bid of about £10 million (€11.5m) to persuade the Real Sociedad board to part with their star man.
Arsenal's Johan Djourou Could Play Again This Season After Shoulder Injury
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Arsenal have confirmed Johan Djourou could feature again this season as he begins his recovery from a shoulder injury.
The Switzerland international had to be stretchered off the pitch during Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester United in March after colliding with team-mate Bacary Sagna in an attempt to stop their opponents scoring.
It was originally feared that Djourou would miss the rest of the season, however as it transpires, he could be playing in just over a month after the club conducted exploratory surgery.
A statement on Arsenal’s official website said: “We can confirm the positive news that there isn't a need for reconstructive surgery.
"Johan will now begin a period of rehabilitation before returning to training in around a month."
The Swiss FA last week suggested Djourou's injury wasn’t as bad as originally thought and believed that one month of rehab would have been sufficient before returning to first-team duties.
Arsenal at the time claimed this was “inaccurate” and maintained that the centre-back would be injured for the rest of the season.
The Switzerland international had to be stretchered off the pitch during Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester United in March after colliding with team-mate Bacary Sagna in an attempt to stop their opponents scoring.
It was originally feared that Djourou would miss the rest of the season, however as it transpires, he could be playing in just over a month after the club conducted exploratory surgery.
A statement on Arsenal’s official website said: “We can confirm the positive news that there isn't a need for reconstructive surgery.
"Johan will now begin a period of rehabilitation before returning to training in around a month."
The Swiss FA last week suggested Djourou's injury wasn’t as bad as originally thought and believed that one month of rehab would have been sufficient before returning to first-team duties.
Arsenal at the time claimed this was “inaccurate” and maintained that the centre-back would be injured for the rest of the season.
Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny Reveals He Is Still Training Despite Injured Hand
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Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has revealed the injury he sustained against Barcelona in the Champions League has not stopped him putting in the hours on the training pitch.
The Polish 'keeper has been sidelined for two weeks and faces a minimum of two more weeks in a splint after rupturing tendons in his left hand.
Manager Arsene Wenger last week stated that he expected the 20-year-old to miss six weeks of action.
The injury prevents him from taking part in a normal goalkeeping routine, but Szczesny is using the time to work on other areas of his game that will improve him in the long-term.
"I work in the gym everyday, working on my lower body and my distribution as well which will be very good for me," he told the club's website. "I'm not getting bored, I can still do a lot of stuff.
"There's nothing you can do when it happens - you have to move on, work hard on your fitness and make sure you come back stronger than ever.
"There's not a lot of joint damage, the tendon is ruptured. So basically I have to keep my finger in a splint for four weeks and let the tendon heal. From then it will be a couple of weeks before I can be back in the squad.
"It's very hard, especially at a time when it was going well for me. We have got some big games coming up."
The Polish 'keeper has been sidelined for two weeks and faces a minimum of two more weeks in a splint after rupturing tendons in his left hand.
Manager Arsene Wenger last week stated that he expected the 20-year-old to miss six weeks of action.
The injury prevents him from taking part in a normal goalkeeping routine, but Szczesny is using the time to work on other areas of his game that will improve him in the long-term.
"I work in the gym everyday, working on my lower body and my distribution as well which will be very good for me," he told the club's website. "I'm not getting bored, I can still do a lot of stuff.
"There's nothing you can do when it happens - you have to move on, work hard on your fitness and make sure you come back stronger than ever.
"There's not a lot of joint damage, the tendon is ruptured. So basically I have to keep my finger in a splint for four weeks and let the tendon heal. From then it will be a couple of weeks before I can be back in the squad.
"It's very hard, especially at a time when it was going well for me. We have got some big games coming up."
Chelsea's Fernando Torres Unconcerned By Goal Drought
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Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has denied claims that he is worried by his lack of goals and is instead concentrating on the club’s push for the Premier League title.
The World Cup winner failed to net again during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Manchester City at the weekend, extending his barren run to seven games without scoring since joining the club.
Torres maintains he is confident of ending the drought soon but is unconcerned, despite growing media pressure.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Spain’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Czech Republic, Torres said: “I am not anxious about the fact that I haven't scored my first goal for Chelsea.
“This is an issue for the papers, not for me.
"I am confident that the goal will soon come, but it is more important that Chelsea win than I score."
The former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool man believes Chelsea are still in with a chance of successfully defending the league championship they won last season.
He continued: “I came to Chelsea to win titles and make the most of my career.
"I would not count Chelsea out of the title race in the Premier League. There is still a chance.
"The Champions League game against Manchester United will be hard because they are the worst possible draw.
"The situation is 50/50, though, and we can go through.
"I am a fan of [Sir Alex] Ferguson because he is a coach that fights for victory, like [Pep] Guardiola, [Jose] Mourinho or [Rafa] Benitez.
"It is a delight for any player to work with this kind of coach and feed off their success."
The World Cup winner failed to net again during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Manchester City at the weekend, extending his barren run to seven games without scoring since joining the club.
Torres maintains he is confident of ending the drought soon but is unconcerned, despite growing media pressure.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Spain’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Czech Republic, Torres said: “I am not anxious about the fact that I haven't scored my first goal for Chelsea.
“This is an issue for the papers, not for me.
"I am confident that the goal will soon come, but it is more important that Chelsea win than I score."
The former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool man believes Chelsea are still in with a chance of successfully defending the league championship they won last season.
He continued: “I came to Chelsea to win titles and make the most of my career.
"I would not count Chelsea out of the title race in the Premier League. There is still a chance.
"The Champions League game against Manchester United will be hard because they are the worst possible draw.
"The situation is 50/50, though, and we can go through.
"I am a fan of [Sir Alex] Ferguson because he is a coach that fights for victory, like [Pep] Guardiola, [Jose] Mourinho or [Rafa] Benitez.
"It is a delight for any player to work with this kind of coach and feed off their success."
