Source: Team_Talk
Vieira expects fierce battle for places
Patrick Vieira has warned his Manchester City team-mates not to expect an automatic first-team place at Eastlands this season.[LNB] As Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland prepare to leave the world's richest club, James Milner and new Italy international Mario Balotelli are about to come through the revolving door.[LNB]It would leave Roberto Mancini with an embarrassment of riches; so extensive further players would have to leave before the August 31 transfer deadline just to ensure they did not remain at the club with no chance of playing.[LNB]City's 25-man quota is currently full now it has been confirmed an administration error by UEFA led to the Blues' Europa League squad going out yesterday without the inclusions of David Silva and Jo, who are actually both available for the two-legged qualifier against Timisoara.[LNB]And, according to Vieira, that means everyone can expect a spell on the bench, or in the stands, at some stage.[LNB]"Everyone has to get focused," said Vieira.[LNB]"It will bring some frustration because quality players do not like to be on the bench.[LNB]"But, at an ambitious club like City, you have to accept it.[LNB]"Chelsea also have a good side on the bench but if you want to go from the start to the end you need everyone and for everyone to be fully committed.[LNB]"Anything can happen in the first few months.[LNB]"Eleven players will start the first few games, but there are so many games to play in so many competitions. What we can do is put the manager in a difficult position when he picks who is going to start."[LNB]As Mancini's hopes of getting Milner and Balotelli into the club immediately after the international fixtures have come to nothing, the transfers could be delayed until next week.[LNB]Neither man would come into contention for Saturday's eagerly-anticipated opener at Tottenham and they are both ineligible for the Europa League trip to Romania, so the earliest they could play would be the encounter with Liverpool at Eastlands on August 23, thereby taking the pressure off.[LNB]Ireland's proposed move to Aston Villa as part of the Milner transfer is not thought to have been affected by Martin O'Neill's shock resignation, while Bellamy is attracting interest from Celtic, having angered City with his outspoken comments about the club on Wales duty earlier this week, for which he is expected to be fined two weeks' wages.[LNB]Robinho is someone else who has made plenty of negative comments about City in the past and his conversation with Mancini would have been interesting after the Brazilian had arrived at the club's Carrington training complex earlier today after completing his loan spell at Santos.[LNB]Not that Vieira will allow any of this to deflect him from the path of proving he was worth the additional 12-month contract he was given by Mancini in the summer after a disappointing half season where injury restricted him to just 14 appearances.[LNB]"Last season was frustrating for me," he said.[LNB]"It is never easy when you arrive at a new club and are already injured.[LNB]"You want to get back as soon as you can but physically you are always behind the other players.[LNB]"It was quite tough and difficult but I was happy with the way I played in the last few games."[LNB]And happily, Vieira has come through a tough pre-season schedule without a problem.[LNB]"I have had no injuries and not missed any training," he said.[LNB]"Now I have to work really hard, and every time the manager needs me to start or be on the bench I will be ready to give everything."[LNB]
