Pablo Zabaleta backs Manchester City to respond after Southampton defeat
Pablo Zabaleta says Manchester City can use the disappointment of last weekend's surprise defeat by Southampton to try and recapture the spirit that saw them snatch last season's title from rivals Manchester United.
The 3-1 loss at St Mary's dealt a huge blow to second-placed City's hopes of retaining their Premier League crown as United took advantage with a win over Everton to move 12 points clear.
Defender Zabaleta, 28, admits City were deflated by last Saturday's result but says he and his team-mates now have a much more positive mind-set that they can carry into Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Leeds and then the ongoing title race.
"We had a great session on Wednesday afternoon and the feeling among the lads is very positive," said Zabaleta, quoted on City's official website, http://www.mcfc.co.uk.
"Sometimes after a game like Southampton you need a few days to think about what went wrong and why, and then come back stronger and I believe that's what will happen.
"We will learn from this defeat and use the deflated feeling we had afterwards as an inspiration to maybe try and re-discover the sort of spirit we had last season.
"We need to stand together, battle and show what we are really capable of.
"We will aim to get back to winning ways at the weekend in the FA Cup and that is our immediate focus now."
The odds are now stacked against City in the title race after last Saturday's game, which Zabaleta believes was City's worst performance for two years, but the Argentine still has hope they can force their way back into contention over the remaining 12 games.
"We know we gave probably our worst performance for two years or more last Saturday and it couldn't have come at a worse time because it was such a vital game in the title race, and United keep winning so the gap is even bigger than before," added Zabaleta.
"But you never know in football."
City plan raid on Roma for winger Lamela and centre back Marquinhos
Manchester City are monitoring Roma's Argentine winger Erik Lamela.
Manager Roberto Mancini and his scouts have watched Roma frequently as they monitor young Brazilian centre back Marquinhos who is also wanted by Barcelona.
Lamela, 20, has already been capped by his national side and could come in as a replacement for Scott Sinclair who could be sold in the summer. DSSC
Why Manchester City have fallen way short in the title race this season by Robbie Savage
Now the title race is over, Manchester City must look beyond Joe Hart's fumble and Gareth Barry's own goal at Southampton for the reasons their defence of the crown fell flat.
Let's be honest, the crown is heading back across Manchester. And for me, the only question is whether the winning margin will beat the record 18-point gap between champions and runners-up.
Manchester United are 12 points clear already, and I think they could do it.
This has been a poor Premier League season, and City have fallen way below the standards they set last year.
Their biggest mistake was letting Robin van Persie slip through their fingers, and signing for United, in the summer. That was the most fundamental error of the lot.
I'm a big fan of Hart, and I don't go along with the view that he's had an indifferent season.
Toure de force? Yaya hasn't been the same player this season
He looked all right to me when he was saving a penalty for England against Brazil last week.
Manager Roberto Mancini doesn't need me to tell him Yaya Toure has not been the same player that he was on the run-in last spring, there is not enough pace in the side and the players he has brought in - like Javier Garcia and Jack Rodwell - have strengthened the squad but not necessarily strengthened the team.
On the whole, they have not been a patch on the team they were 12 months ago and and they will have to win the FA Cup now to take any consolation at all from the campaign before a major rebuild in the summer.
Incidentally, Southampton were outstanding last Saturday. Don't let City's problems take anything away from their magnificent performance.
Danny Mills believes Man City boss Roberto Mancini will be sacked if they lose in the FA Cup
Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills believes that Roberto Mancini will face the sack if his side lose to Leeds United in the FA Cup.
City have struggled to match the success of winning the Premier League last season as they trail rivals Manchester United by 12 points in the title race.
"Mancini is under pressure," Mills told the BBC. "It looks like they have blown their chances of retaining the title.
"You wonder what would happen if they went out of the FA Cup against Leeds. I think Roberto Mancini goes."
City's last hope of winning silverware this season hinges on the FA Cup when they host Neil Warnock's side in the fifth round of the competition on Sunday.
Edin Dzeko auctions off 'goal celebration' t-shirts to raise money for Sarajevo orphanage
Good guy Edin Dzeko is auctioning off the personalised t-shirts that he revealed after scoring against Stoke City and Arsenal not so very long ago on Ebay to help raise a wodge of cash for an orphanage in his hometown of Sarajevo.
Rather than going through a representative or a PR firm, Dzeko has listed the two shirts on the auction site using a personal account, along with the following message to potential buyers:
"Dear fans and everybody,
"In order to help those in need, I decided to start selling sports memorabilia that has a special meaning for me, and all the money I raise from this and future auctions will go to charity.
"This time my family, friends and I decided to donate proceeds to Home for children without parental care Bjelave in my hometown Sarajevo.
"Items I'm selling are two signed Manchester City Sky Blue Umbro T-shirts (size L) with custom messages: "Happy New Year" - worn on 1 January 2013 against Stoke City, and the other, in my native, Bosnian language - "Za moje mahalce" (For my mates) - worn on 13 January 2013 against Arsenal.
"Both T-shirts were part of my goal celebration, so good luck bidding and don't forget it's for the noble cause."
Bidding for the tees (which are being sold as a job lot) currently stands at a whopping 10,000 US dollars, so unfortunately the time has come and gone for paupers like us to have a flutter on them - but if you're a Russian oil oligarch or a 15-year-old internet millionaire with at least 10,100 dollars to spare, then why not head over to Dzeko's Ebay page and place your bid?
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[/spoiler]Arsenal will sign Spain international David Villa, 31, in the summer if they meet Barcelona's £17m asking price. talkSHIT
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted it was a mistake to try to sell defender Michael Dawson in the summer, after the 29-year-old forced his way back into Tottenham's starting line-up. Metro
Chelsea have been handed a potential transfer boost after Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, 24, said he will consider his future in the summer. talkSHIT
The future of Nani, 26, at Manchester United looks uncertain after he did not make the bench for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid, although manager Sir Alex Ferguson has played down his decision to omit the Portuguese winger. Daily Express
West Ham will make another bid for Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, 31, in the summer after the south coast club rejected a bid in the January transfer window. Daily Mirror
Winger Ryan Giggs says England manager Roy Hodgson is making a massive mistake by ignoring his Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, 34. Daily Star
Manchester United defender Rafael, 22, believes his performance against Real Madrid should earn him a call-up for the Brazil squad. Sky Sports
Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, plans to end Manchester United's Champions League campaign in the second leg at Old Trafford. Daily Express
Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez says defender John Terry's knee injury has locked the 32-year-old into a "vicious circle" in which he is not sufficiently fit to play but cannot regain his sharpness without time on the pitch. The Times
West Ham striker Modibo Maiga will have to explain why he returned to the club from the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday, 48 hours later than expected. The Sun
Former Blackburn and MK Dons manager Paul Ince, 45, is set to become the new manager of Blackpool after watching most of the games this season because of his son Tom. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, 30, says manager Arsene Wenger has more options this season because the Gunners are no longer reliant on striker Robin van Persie, who joined Manchester United in the summer. The Sun
Football fans could be allowed to drink alcohol in their seats for the first time in almost 30 years if a campaign led by Ipswich Town gets the go-ahead. Daily Mirror
Argentina legend Diego Maradona, 52, has become a father for the fourth time. His former girlfriend Veronica Ojeda has given birth to a boy called Diego Fernando in Buenos Aires. Maradona has two daughters and a son born in 1986 called Diego Armando, who he refuses to acknowledge. Latin American Herald Tribune
CRAIG'S BONUS
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[/spoiler]more bollox soon ...
