by johnny crossan » Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:32 pm
told ya'
No Manchester City player is safe from Roberto Mancini's axe
Rob Dawson
August 10, 2011
Defender Joleon Lescott admits he faces a battle to stay in the City side this season
As the City players wandered through the mixed zone at Wembley on Sunday, those who stopped for a brief chat all had the same thing to say: ‘It has never been a better time to be a Blue’.
But with the big players, the big wages and the chance to win the biggest prizes the game has to offer comes an internal battle that is fought every day on the Carrington training pitches.
Competition for places has never been more fierce. Roberto Mancini will have to whittle down the 35 senior pros at his disposal into a 25-man squad for the Premier League and Champions League.
Bolster
That Mancini can do without established stars such as Craig Bellamy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nedum Onouha and Wayne Bridge – all of whom would walk into most teams – says all you need to know about the strength of the squad.
The pressure to perform each week isn’t lost on Joleon Lescott, who has seen Mancini bolster his options at the back with the arrival of Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic.
Kolo Toure will also be free to play after September 2 when his six-month ban for failing a drugs test comes to an end.
Lescott got the nod to partner Vincent Kompany at the heart of the defence during the Community Shield at Wembley but the duo were at fault for a goal apiece as United came back from 2-0 down. And with the start of City’s Premier League season just five days away, the England defender knows he – nor any of his team-mates – can’t afford any more slip-ups if he wants to keep his place.
“Gael has been a great addition to the squad,” said the 28-year-old. “Not just on the field but his personality as well.
“It feels like he has been here for years.
“If he can continue to settle and gel as well as he has then I’m sure everyone will be comfortable.
“It’s the same with Stefan Savic. He has been outstanding in training and obviously I know that he’s going to be on my heels to get into the team.
“That keeps you on your toes and I know I need to play well to stay in the team.”
Savic, a £6m signing from Partizan Belgrade, was a relative unknown in England before completing his move. But the same can’t be said for City’s other addition, Sergio Aguero.
Videos of spectacular Aguero goals for Atletico Madrid and Argentina were hurriedly passed between City fans as news of his impending arrival spread. But Lescott, for one, knew exactly what the Blues were getting for their club record fee.
“I didn’t have to watch videos on YouTube to see how good Aguero is,” said Lescott. “I know about him, he’s a household name. I saw a lot of him last season when there was talk of him going to different clubs, but if he can produce the level of goals he did last season then he will be a great signing.”
Warned
City start their Premier League campaign with Swansea’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Monday.
Lescott says he’s happy with City’s tag as one of the favourites to lift the title but warned that didn’t mean teams like new boys Swansea would be happy to roll over.
“We’re not going to get carried away and say we’re going to win the league but that’s our aim,” added Lescott.
“Swansea like to play football. I saw a lot of them last season and they do like to play. They’ve got some exciting players and we know it’s not going to be an easy game.
“But again, we’re confident going into any game. It’s going to be at the Etihad Stadium and the emphasis is going to be on us to take the game to them.
“Obviously we’re not at our peak condition but nobody is going to be for the first game of the season. But we’ll progress and get some benefit from every game we play in.”
