Former Manchester City centre midfielder Dietmar Hamann still believes that City can still possibly win the Barclays Premier League, despite falling behined in the tight title race, after a poor start to the season under new City manager Manual Pellegrini.
The Citizens spent big on transfers this summer, after bringing in Fernandinho, from Ukranian giants Shaktar Donesk, Alvaro Negrado, from Spanish side Seville, Jesus Navas, also from Seville, defender Martin Demichelis signed from Malaga, and striker Stevan Jovetic signed from Serie A side Fiorentina, as Pellegrini looks to assert his own stamp on the squad.
Four defeats in six away games has seen some pundits and media outlets revise the pre season prediction after City have slumped to eigth in the League, after notable defeats at newly promoted Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Sunderland respectively.
These defeat’s, coupled with the continued absence of captain Vincent Kompany, and well docummented mistakes from regular first choice keeper Joe Hart, has left a bad taste in the mouth of all at City, and this is despite a 4-1 demolition of rivals Manchester United, in the derby game.
Hamann was quoted in an interview given to Sky Sports News…..
“They have to keep their home form and they have to start winning away games,”
“It has been very disappointing to watch them in games that you did not expect them to struggle in.
“Probably at Aston Villa, they were a little hard done by by the referee. They were well on top in the first half and probably should have won the game but I don’t think there were too many complaints at the end.
“But at Sunderland and Cardiff, they also lost and they have been beaten four times away from home this year. You would think they can probably only afford to lose two, maybe three, more if they want to win the league.
“For me, they are still the most likely Premier League champions, but they have to start improving their away form. If they don’t do that, once you get six points behind the team at the top – and the way Arsenal is going now – it could be very hard to claw them back.”
Pellegrini has come under some critisism by Manchester City supporters for his use of tactics in recent week’s, and with reports linking Sergio Aguero with a move, the side must improve.
City’s opponants on Sunday afternoon are North London side Tottenham Hotspur, and Hamann believes Spurs can still challenge for a top four spot.
As for Spurs, they do not score enough goals,” Hamann added. “I still think they have every chance of finishing in the top four because they have a very talented squad.
“If you look at their bench, it is better than most other teams apart from maybe Manchester City. They have a host of players there that are top international players.
“If they were to get beat at City on Sunday – which I think they will do – they get further and further behind and you just wonder, once you are six or seven points behind the top-four spots, it is not that easy to make up.”
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
