Source: Team_Talk
McLeish hopes break helps Blues
And the City manager has challenged his players not to let drop the standards they have set in the first five months of the season ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash at Everton.[LNB]City have struggled to train and prepare properly for games in recent weeks after the snow which engulfed the midlands, and McLeish hopes the four-day stint on the Mediterranean island will be of benefit.[LNB]He said: "The weather has been shocking with the snow and then rain over the last month.[LNB]"It has been particularly hard to train, so I felt to get decent facilities we would have to come abroad.[LNB]"I've been on a few of these trips before and my experience tells me it can be very beneficial for the players.[LNB]"It's not a holiday. We're working hard - possibly even harder than we would normally because of the weather.[LNB]"But it's also a wee bit of sun on the players' back and will hopefully recharge the batteries ahead of the run-in."[LNB]McLeish continued: "The players have punched above their weight during the first half of the season and they have set standards for themselves.[LNB]"The challenge is to make 100 per cent sure we stay in the Premier League and to maintain the benchmark the players have set in terms of performances."[LNB]City drew 1-1 at Goodison Park last month but McLeish expects a tough battle against David Moyes' revitalised side in the battle to reach the last 16.[LNB]He said: "Everton were the FA Cup finalists last time so I expect them to be doubly determined to go one further this year.[LNB]"They had a perfectly good goal knocked off against us last month when replays showed Saha was not offside, although similar things have gone against us in other games.[LNB]"We know it will be another hard game but we'll prepare properly."[LNB][LNB]
