Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes his side are ready for their must-win encounter with Tottenham (9/4 to win on the midweek coupon) on Wednesday night.
The midweek clash could decide who gets that fourth and final Champions League spot with the two sides seemingly having cut a drift LIverpool and Aston Villa.
Spurs’ win over Bolton kept them one point ahead of City while Mancini’s men ended any hopes Aston Villa had of a top finish by beating them 3-1 at Eastlands.
Liverpool’s hopes could be extinguished should they fail to beat Chelsea on Sunday with the Reds five points behind Tottenham with just two games to play.
Mancini believes no matter what else happens the winner of Wednesday’s match will be the team that makes it into the Champions League next season.
“I think we must beat Tottenham,” said Mancini. “It will be a massive game and we need all the supporters.
“It will be a fantastic game on Wednesday.”
City looked to be back to somewhere near their best on Saturday with the front three of Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez (28/1 top goalscorer) and Emmanuel Adebayor all getting on the score sheet for the home side.
However, the majority of City supporters had their eyes on debutant Marton Fulop, the Sunderland goalkeeper joining the Eastlands outfit on an emergency loan following Shay Given’s shoulder injury.
Fulop looked out of sorts at times, flapping at a number of crosses, although Mancini put it down to nerves and has backed him to come good.
While City’s goalkeeping situation shows no sign of improving Tottenham have their own concerns over their shot stopper.
Spurs (4/5 top four finish) number one Heurelho Gomes was visibly limping towards the end of their game with Bolton and manager Harry Redknapp has since revealed the Brazilian picked up a groin injury coming for a cross.
Gomes will now have a scan to determine whether he will be fit to start with Redknapp prepared to turn to England under-21 goalkeeper Ben Alnwick should his number one be ruled out of action.
Redknapp says he would be happy to turn to Alnwick, despite admitting that Wednesday’s game will be ‘massive’.
“We’re right there. We have two big games to come,” said Redknapp.
“It’s a massive game and we would have taken this at the start of the season.”
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