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Watch out, City! Fergie reckons Newcastle could deliver fatal blow to rivals' title dreams

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Manchester City the title race is far from over as they face a tough trip to Newcastle.

City travel to the north-east on Sunday afternoon in the early kick-off before United take on Swansea at Old Trafford.

The two sides are level pegging at the top of the Barclays Premier League going into the final two games of the exhilirating campaign.

City's goal difference is plus-eight on their rivals - meaning that the title is almost certainly theirs if they win the remaining matches against Newcastle and QPR.

But, speaking at his Thursday morning press conference, Ferguson warned City that they face a big job trying to nullify Papiss Cisse and co, who are flying high after their impressive 2-0 victory at Chelsea on Wednesday evening.

Ferguson said: 'By the time we kick off we'll know what we'll need to do. Newcastle are fighting for that position in the top four. They have a chance. It's an exciting end to the season.

'The challenge for City is to win at Newcastle and Newcastle are playing very well. They've lost 4-0 at Wigan but galvanised themselves to win at Chelsea last night. Their form is good and it won't be an easy game for City.

'We'll be aware of the game going on before ours. You can't avoid it. We still have to prepare for our game, though. We won't neglect our preparation for our game.'

 

Ferguson's side will face Swansea without injured duo Danny Welbeck and Jonny Evans.

Evans picked up a knock before Monday's 1-0 defeat in the Manchester derby and the Swansea match is likely to come too soon.

Welbeck, who left the Etihad Stadium in a protective boot after a clumsy challenge from Nigel de Jong, has a slight foot problem but is set to return to face Sunderland on the final day of the season.

Ferguson has also warned his own players that Swansea will be no pushovers after their stunning debut season in the Premier League.

He added: 'The way Swansea have played this season  has been admirable. I went to see them last weekend. They want to play football. The manager has stuck by his principles and they've had a fantastic season.

'[Losing at City on] Monday night was a blow to us. We can only do what we can now and hopefully win our game on Sunday.'

City boss Roberto Mancini happy for striker Carlos Tevez to remain at Etihad

Roberto Mancini says he has no problem with allowing Carlos Tevez to stay at City.

 The Blues boss believes his clashes with the fiery Argentine striker are in the past after Tevez revealed exclusively in M.E.N. Sport on Monday that he wants to remain at the Etihad Stadium. 

That news gave Blues fans a big boost on derby day, as the striker said he is now settled in Manchester, before putting in a typically hard-working performance in the crucial 1-0 win over United.

 Mancini said the focus now has to be entirely on beating Newcastle on Sunday afternoon, and that once the title race has been run, Tevez’s future can be sorted out.

 But he has no objections to the player staying.

 “Why not? He has a contract,” he said. “And he is a good player, but now our concentration should be on Newcastle.”

 Some sceptical City fans fear Tevez and Mancini, who have repeatedly clashed, could end up at loggerheads again.

 But Mancini – who has described Tevez’s attitude as ‘perfect’ since he returned from an unauthorised three-month absence in Argentina – when asked if it was a possibility, said “No. Once was enough.”

  Tevez has also been much happier in his relationship with Mancini, saying the boss had been ‘good as gold’ with him since his return to training on February 14. 

Tevez will be a key man as the Blues head to Newcastle on Sunday for a game in which a win would see them take a giant stride towards the league title. 

And City received a big boost ahead of that game with goalkeeper Joe Hart revealing he should be fit after a late injury scare against the Reds.

 Hart turned his ankle as he was fouled by United’s Chris Smalling in added time, and was given treatment for the knock yesterday.

 But he said: “Everything is OK, I just caught my ankle. Chris Smalling landed on it so it hurts and has swollen up. But we have great medical staff so it will be dealt with.” 

Manchester City's David Silva determined to seal title deal

David Silva has told his cock-a-hoop Manchester City teammates: “Let's finish the job!”

 The silky-skilled Spaniard helped to see off Manchester United in Monday's epic derby win at the pulsating Etihad Stadium.

 But he has been the calmest man in the camp ever since, and is keen to put out the message that the euphoria of beating the Reds will count for nothing unless the Blues can go to Newcastle and win on Sunday afternoon.

 And he admitted he was surprised that United have thrown away the advantage they had after City's defeat at Arsenal on Easter Sunday.

 “It’s been a very, very long season, very tough, but it’s very important that we finish the job now,” he said. “Win the last two matches and we win the title.

 “I am surprised to see United taking an eight-point lead and then giving that up but don’t forget that we had a massive lead and we lost it. It’s a very competitive season, a very long season.

 “This is an important moment for us psychologically because we knew we had to win the game on Monday.

 “Mentally we knew we had to win it. We did that and now we have to continue concentrating on the job. 

“It gives us the confidence we need for the last two games - the Newcastle game is like a final for us now, and we have to win it.” 

Manager Roberto Mancini has steadfastly refused to admit that City had clawed their way back into the title race – he has repeatedly said the title had gone, and even now he is claiming United are favourites to lift the trophy.

 Silva feels that the tactic has worked perfectly, as it lifted any remaining expectation from the shoulders of the players and has helped them scorch to four successive wins and regain top spot.

 “Perhaps Roberto has deflected the pressure from us by saying the title is over,” said Silva. “He has certainly taken the pressure off the players which always helps because the pressure is always there between United and City.

 “Him taking the pressure off the players has really helped. 

“We were in front, then they were in front and now we are tying with Manchester United and are playing to win the title “

There was never a point when we totally gave up on the league but we did get to a point when we knew it was very difficult. 

“All we could do was keep working and get three points after three points and now we are here – but we have to finish the job.

 “In the dressing room you could see Mancini was delighted. He told us that we played a great match, that we all played great. But he also reminded us that we must concentrate on next Sunday.” 

Top player 

Silva has marked himself out as one of the world's top players, but his only serious silverware is cup winner's medals in Spain and England. He picked up a World Cup winner's medal with Spain in 2010 but sat on the bench for the final.

 And, perhaps with that in mind, he says that the victory over United could be the biggest win of his career, as long as they can follow it with wins over Newcastle and QPR.

 “If we end up winning the title this result, then yes perhaps this could be the most important in my career but we have to win the title for this result to win something,” he said. 

“And I hope it can lead to more trophies. Last year we won the FA Cup and qualified for the Champions League.

 “This year we are challenging for the title. Let’s see. Hopefully we can win the title. Then next year we can challenge for the Champions League.” 

There had been speculation that Silva might have been dropped for the clash with United, but Mancini boldly fielded him as part of his attacking quartet, along with Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.

 That put the Blues on the front foot, while United went into the game with a defensive mindset as Sir Alex Ferguson flooded the midfield. 

But Silva said he was not taken aback by United's lack of ambition: “I cant say I was surprised that United were set up so defensively.

 “This is football. You have a tactical plan and you should stick to it. On this particular occasion it didn’t work for them.” 

City have now done the league double over their neighbours for only the second time in 38 years, but can turn local bragging rights into national superiority by winning the next two games. 

But Silva was adamant that City should not be defined by their relation to United, in victory or defeat, and that the Blues have moved out of the Red shadow. 

“We are ready to win the title,” he said. “We don’t concentrate on United. We concentrate on ourselves. We beat them at their place, and we beat them at ours."

“We know how we want to play, and we know where we want to be."

 “Don’t get me wrong – United are a great team, a fantastic team, and they’ve been winning titles for a long time.

 “But we don’t need to think about United. We’ve passed that mental stage now and we believe we can win the title.”