Sven: Rest will help City
25 Feb 2008 - 12:38:24
Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is hoping the rest his players have enjoyed since winning at Old Trafford more than two weeks ago will have a big bearing on Monday's Premier League clash with Everton.
City's failure to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup ensured they were without a game last weekend, and Eriksson now has the luxury of virtually a full-strength squad to pick from as Elano and Vedran Corluka return from suspension.
"I would have preferred to play in the FA Cup but unfortunately we didn't do that," Eriksson told City's official website.
"But I think the break came at the right moment - we needed that, maybe not physically but mentally.
"United was an extremely good performance from us. If we could play like that every week with the same spirit and attitude, I would be delighted.
"If we thought the season is over we could pack up and go home but I hope we are more clever than that. I know that all the players would like to play in Europe next season and to do that we need to finish the season in a very good way."
Of his selection dilemma, the Swede added: "It is good for everyone at the club, even the players. It is good to have competition for places.
"Many times during the year there hasn't been competition. The rest of the season is very important and to have a big squad is very good.
"Hopefully we will not have any more big injuries before the season finishes. It is now not easy to make the first eleven and it is not easy to make the eleven plus the bench either.
"To touch a team that wins at Old Trafford? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. We will see."