Filed under: Manchester City, Stoke City, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Two brilliant individual goals by Carlos Tevez helped Manchester City leapfrog Arsenal into third place in the race to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.Roberto Mancini's side are already guaranteed a top-four finish and a place in the play-offs of Europe's most prestigious club competition.
But they now head into the final game of the season, away to Bolton, in pole position to cement third spot ahead of Arsene Wenger's side after a second win over Stoke in 72 hours.
The feel-good factor from Wembley engulfed Eastlands as Mancini's FA Cup winners, who played the final few minutes with 10 men after Pablo Zabaleta went off injured, comfortably overcame their tired opponents in their final home game of a memorable campaign.
Tevez set the hosts on their way with a breathtaking 14th minute finish, the Argentine at his majestic best as he dummied brilliantly past Andy Wilkinson and Ryan Shawcross before his right-foot shot from 12-yards found the top corner.
And Joleon Lescott doubled the lead in the 53rd minute as the defender easily nodded past a stranded Thomas Sorensen following Adam Johnson's free-kick.
Having run themselves into the ground in the FA Cup final for no reward, Stoke had little to offer in what was a one-sided contest.
Tevez made it 3-0 in the 65th minute from a 30-yard free-kick which was every bit as spectacular as his first goal.
Speculation continues about the former Manchester United striker's future.
But Tevez, who is now level on 20 with Dimitar Berbatov at the top of the Premier League's scoring charts, showed why Mancini must keep him at Eastlands this summer.
REACTION:
Mancini is confident Tevez will remain at the club this summer after speaking to his leading scorer since the FA Cup final:
"I spoke to him a few times in the past few days and it's my opinion that he wants to stay here. I think he will stay. I don't think he will change his mind. We have the Champions League and we can buy other big players. He has a five-year contract and he has told me he wants to stay."
On sealing third spot ahead of Arsenal, who visit Fulham on the last day:
"For us it was important to get fourth position at the start of the season. But now we want to finish third. There is a big difference to play in the Champions League play-offs and going through to the group stages. Qualifying can be difficult so we want to try and go straight through to the group. It would be perfect to beat Arsenal to third but we have a difficult game at Bolton."
On the performance:
"It was fantastic. It wasn't easy after three days but it was important the players kept their concentration."
Stoke manager Tony Pulis promised fans they would see a reaction from his players against Wigan on the final day:
"I have great respect for Roberto Martinez and Dave Whelan at Wigan but we will be trying to win it. We have a responsibility as a club to make sure we turn up on Sunday. We want to finish in the top 10."
On City:
"They remind me of Chelsea four or five years ago under Jose Mourinho. They have big, strong and powerful players. They will be a danger to the other teams in respect of the championship. Tevez is a top, top player and his free-kick was extraordinary."
On Stoke's progress this season:
"We have taken giant steps this season. Over the last five years we have improved, improved and improved. There are not many teams who can say that."
WHAT IT MEANS:
City will avoid the likes of Bayern Munich and Villarreal in the Champions League play-offs if they defeat Bolton on the final day and seal third spot. That would be an impressive achievement considering the goal at the start of the season was to finish in the top four. It could also convince Tevez to remain at Eastlands for another season, particularly as Mancini plans to use the close season to bring in more high-profile signings.
Stoke remain on course for a first top 10 finish since 1974-75. But the FA Cup final defeat has clearly taken its toll on Pulis's side, good news for Wigan as they attempt to secure a win at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of the season to stay up.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Juan Carlos Ferrero Juan Monaco Juan Roman Riquelme Juninho Pernambucano
No comments:
Post a Comment