The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Manchester City’s Pellegrini relaxed over Chelsea team selection Posted: 25 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT City, who are six points behind leaders Liverpool but have a game in hand, are hoping for a Chelsea victory at Anfield to revive their diminishing title chances. Second-placed Chelsea, five points behind the leaders with three games to play, host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday and manager Jose Mourinho has said he may play a weakened team against Liverpool to keep senior players fresh. "I don't know what Chelsea are going to do – the only important thing we can do is to win our game," Pellegrini told reporters today. "Is it fair? (that Chelsea play a weakened side) I think every team tries to make the best thing for their team. The only important thing for us is to win our game." Liverpool have won their last 11 games, making them strong favourites to claim their first league title in 24 years, but Pellegrini said City have not given up hope of reclaiming the trophy they won in 2012. "They (Liverpool) have the best chance to win it but they still have to win their last three games," the Chilean continued. "Of course we can win the league – everyone working in football knows anything can happen when the pressure is high." City, whose match against Crystal Palace kicks off two hours after the table-topping clash at Anfield, travel to Selhurst Park to play a side that have won their last five league matches. Pellegrini will be boosted by the return of 22-goal midfielder Yaya Toure, who has missed City's last two matches with a muscle injury, but fellow midfielders David Silva and Jesus Navas are out with ankle injuries. "It will be a very difficult game," added Pellegrini. "We will have play well if we want to win. "Tony Pulis is doing a very good job – Palace have been one of the best teams in the second half of the season and I congratulate him." – Reuters, April 25, 2014. |
| I’ve never slept better, says Liverpool manager Rodgers Posted: 25 Apr 2014 08:15 AM PDT Five points ahead of Sunday's visitors Chelsea and six clear of Manchester City, who have played one game fewer, Liverpool are hot favourites to win the Premier League for the first time, after finishing only seventh last season. "People talk about pressure but it's absolutely wonderful," Rodgers told reporters. "I haven't slept better. It's why we work, and whatever happens we'll have had a brilliant season." Having beaten City 3-2 a fortnight ago, Liverpool have now been helped by Chelsea having to contend with two Champions League semi-final matches and threatening to field a weakened side at Anfield. Rodgers sympathises, saying that City suffered when they had to play four days after the Liverpool defeat and could only draw with bottom club Sunderland. "There is a cost if Chelsea play the same team on Sunday and Wednesday," he said. "You saw that with Manchester City. On the Wednesday they played Sunderland and had a real cost. Jose won't want to go down that route." Rodgers, a former Chelsea coach who worked under Mourinho at the club, nevertheless added that it would be "hugely disrespectful" to any players brought in who were deemed to be weaker ones. "Chelsea are an outstanding team with lots of good players and a world-class manager," he said. "Whatever team they put out will be more experienced than ours. Jose is a winner who won't give up (on the title). "We know it's a significant game yet again but if you look over the course of the games and our last 11, there's been lots of significant games in there that we've won. "It's another big hurdle for us but it's what it is, it's the three points at the end of it." Liverpool will assess the fitness of former Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge over the weekend. He suffered a hamstring strain against City and missed the last game at Norwich, in which Liverpool recorded their 11th successive win, scoring 38 goals in the process. – Reuters, April 25, 2014. |
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