City’s big name stars and the emerging Adam Johnson rose to the challenge of a very good Villa side to set up ‘The Big One’ with Spurs in town on Wednesday night. The reaction…
Roberto Mancini:
‘We played with tremendous spirit and everyone made a great contribution. It was an important win but of course, the season is far from finished. We have a huge game on Wednesday against Tottenham and it will be most important game for this club for many years.
‘We must win against Tottenham, but I think we must concentrate the same way we did today and it is important that we have good preparation for the match.
‘What impressed me was that we did not sit back and relax and we were not too nervous today when we went 2-1 up. Everyone worked hard and we got our reward. I wouldn’t single anyone out because I was happy with everyone and now we go into Wednesday`s game with Tottenham with a lot of confidence.’
After the on fire Craig Bellamy ran to acknowlegde him following City’s killer third goal, the City boss had these words for shite stirring hacks who have desperately tried to undermine the squad this past week with stories of unrest:
‘I’ve always said there is no problem between Craig and me, after this, maybe people will believe it.’
In summing up, Mancio underlined the significance of Wednesday night’s do or die clash:
‘We now have what is effectively a Champions League final against Spurs.’
Martin O’Neill
The Villa gaffer was quick to emphasise that he will be meeting Villa owner Randy Lerner shortly:
‘The chairman is coming over for a few days, hopefully take in the last game of the season. I will sit down with him and discuss all aspects about the season. If it’s like he was telling me a couple of weeks ago – he’s been immensely proud of the team.’
O’Neill underlined his own pride in a side that plays attractive football who had fought back admirably in recent weeks from a crushing defeat at Chelsea:
‘I am really proud of the team too, I have just said to them we opened the campaign this year with a loss at home to Wigan Athletic and up until today we shared with two other teams the least number of defeats. It tells you a lot about the character of the team, particularly after what happened at Stamford Bridge.’
The astute Villa boss also had this to say for the ‘Big Sky Four’ protectionist hacks in ‘The Street of Shame:’
‘I know there’s a view held that because Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have lost more games this season than they normally would, then it’s a weaker league – I’m inclined to think it’s the other way.’
Barney Daniels, VMC:
‘A great performance by everyone. Massive now for D-day on Wednesday.’
Spooks, VMC:
‘TIME TO GET ABSOLUTLEY SMASHED!’
Darryl, VMC:
‘Best performance for a long time against a very good team. It’s amazing what we can do when we don’t play 20 players in midfield and try attacking.’
Pacific Ocean Blue, VMC:
‘We really are going right down to the wire on our CL quest and whatever the result it’s been a helluva ride.’
VMC City Video Link: Mancio Pitchside At Eastlands
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