Nigel de Jong praises Manchester City ‘winners’

Manchester City holding midfielder Nigel de Jong backs the club to claim the English Premier League title despite unceasing pressure from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.

With 13 Premier League left of the schedule, table-toppers City are sitting on 6o points (19-3-3), while United are currently on 58 points (18-4-3).

I fully expect the title race between the two Manchester-based clubs to go down to the wire, quite possibly even the last game of the campaign, and so does Nigel de Jong.

“We are honestly not thinking about United,” De Jong told The Sunday Mirror. “We aren’t feeling any pressure from them because the only pressure we feel is what we put on ourselves.

“We ­expect this fight to go on until the last games of the season. ­United have won the ­Premier League before, but I don’t think that gives them an ­advantage.”

Now then, can United over-take their “noisy neighbours”, or will City claim their first league title since the 1967-68 season?

I’ve put together a short Premier League title race preview to attempt to answer the aforementioned question. Sit back and enjoy.

Player to Watch: Manchester City

With Carlos Tevez set to return to Manchester City, the Premier League leaders are hoping that the Argentine can regain past form to help bring a title to the Etihad Stadium.

The former Manchester United super-sub bagged 52 goals and 16 assists for City in all competitions in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

There’s no doubt that he’s a superb talent, but can he keep his cool during City’s title run?

Player to Watch: Manchester United

Since Manchester United’s shocking 3-2 loss to Blackburn Rovers on New Years Eve, David de Gea has been on fine form for the Red Devils.

The Spain U-21 international has made a couple of ridiculous saves in his last three games, rescuing a point at Stamford Bridge after denying Juan Mata late in the game and preserving a clean sheet in the UEFA Europa League at Ajax.

United will surely need David de Gea to be on top form if they are to catch City and win the Premier League.

Key Fixture:

Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will travel to Etihad Stadium to take on Roberto Mancini and Manchester City in the Premier League on April 28, 2012.

For obvious reasons, this is the most important game remaining on the schedule for both City and United.

Prediction:

Whoever wins the Manchester derby on April 28, 2012 at the Etihad Stadium will surely win the Premier League title.

City supporters will like the sound of that, especially since their club have won 12 out of 12 league games at the Etihad Stadium. Advantage City, but don’t count United out just yet.