LONDON • Raheem Sterling has admitted the "pressure got to him" and his teammates during Liverpool's failed English Premier League title tilt in the 2013-14 season, but there was no chance of a repeat at Manchester City as they have "the belief".
The former Reds forward was part of a team that topped the table with three games to go five years ago, but slipped up to enable City to win the league by two points.
Recalling his time at Anfield, Sterling told Sky Sports: "When I was there (at Liverpool), I did feel a lot more pressure than when I'm here, with match days and the fans.
"We were in control and we had the opportunity to see it through, but we didn't do that.
"Here, we're completely focused on each game and trying to win each game as it comes.
"It's a completely different scenario from last year... we were a bit more comfortable towards this point of the season."
ABOUT-TURN
This year, it's a complete turnaround and we're the ones who are chasing. It's really close at the moment but I have full belief in the squad.
RAHEEM STERLING, on City playing second fiddle to the Reds compared to last year, when they had a massive lead over their challengers.
Liverpool find themselves in a similar situation to five years ago this term, leading City by one point with 10 league games left.
However, Sterling has no doubts they will eventually reel in Jurgen Klopp's side.
He added: "They've been playing some good football at times but we're confident in ourselves.
"This year, it's a complete turnaround and we're the ones who are chasing. It's really close at the moment but I have full belief in the squad."
City can provisionally move top if they avoid defeat at Bournemouth today, with the Merseyside derby taking place tomorrow.
However, Pep Guardiola knows that anything other than a victory would be a massive blow to their hopes of back-to-back league titles for the first time in their history.
The Spaniard has concerns over fatigue affecting his squad, who remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple. And, with Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte missing for the next few weeks, he will have to tinker with his line-up at Dean Court.
The City boss said: "Hypothetically, we have 20 games left in the season - 10 Premier League games and if we get to the Cup finals - and if you think we are only going to play with Bernardo (Silva) and Raheem, that's not going to happen.
"They (the squad players) know what they have to do, train hard, compete hard, they are going to play minutes.
"Everybody has to make their contribution then, (and) when I see their performance, I'm going to take decisions."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
BOURNEMOUTH V MAN CITY
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11pm
Title cannot soothe PSG's pain in Europe PARIS • Paris Saint-Germain may have clinched their long-expected sixth Ligue 1 title in the past seven seasons, but that triumph cannot mask the French club's shortcomings on the European stage where results have failed to match their huge investments.
Ligue 1 dominance cannot mask PSG's European failure | Free
Football: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race, says Klopp Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Klopp : Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race
'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets fans straight on Messi the pope praised his Argentine compatriot Messi, but said he must not be called God. He's great to watch - but he
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho says his team will 'fight like animals' to retain their Premier League crown. City lead Liverpool at the top of the table by a single point after their 2
Premier League: Man City claim second successive title
Lionel Messi scores La Liga-clinching goal for Barcelona off
Neymar is unlikely to play when Paris Saint-Germain travel to Manchester United in the 'Super difficult' for Neymar to face Man Utd, says PSG boss Tuchel according to head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel: It Will Be 'Super Difficult' for Neymar to
Liverpool will hope to pile the pressure on Man City by beating Southampton and returning to the top of the Premier League this evening. Live from St. Mary's, Friday Night Football returns to Sky
Liverpool beat Chelsea to return top of Premier League
Champions League final: Manchester United were linked with Mauricio Pochettino, but he thinks success will matter more at Tottenham than Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's heroes welcomed home by fans in Manchester
desdelabanda.com/2019/01/14/ole-gunnar-solskjaers-heroes-welcomed-home-by-fans-in/
Football: Spurs' Pochettino recalls how he cheered United counterpart Solskjaer's 1999 Champions League final goal However, he was regularly restricted to substitute appearances after Jose Mourinho replaced Van Gaal as manager later that year, and was often asked to play in a left-sided role, with Romelu Lukaku as the central attacker.
Pochettino: Spurs must 'trust the universe' for Champions
LONDON • Unai Emery is faced with a defensive dilemma that could make or break Arsenal's hopes of a top-four finish in their Premier League campaign. The Gunners travel to Wolves today having
Backline conundrum for Arsenal's Emery in Wolves' lair
Football: United confirm huge Mourinho payoff; 'Class of 92' coach Harrison dies aged 81. The sacking of Jose Mourinho cost Manchester United nearly £20 million (S$34.8 million), the club
Latest JOSE MOURINHO | The Straits Times
February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Joel Matip in action with Bournemouth's Lys Mousset Action Images via Reuters Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over
Liverpool back on top after 3-0 win over Bournemouth - Egypt
Sacked Puel says managing Leicester a 'honour' "It was my honour to work for the late and much-loved Khun Vichai, who gave me the fantastic opportunity to manage his club and share some great
Claude Puel pays to tribute to former Leicester City owner
The caretaker manager blamed a first domestic defeat in 13 league matches on missed chances and exonerated David de Gea from fault when the keeper was beaten by Granit Xhaka for the opening goal.
Rassie Erasmus happy with Bok win but rues missed chances
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar