Joe Hart has admitted Manchester City must do it the hard way again if they are to win their third Premier League title in four years.
City have a full squad available for tomorrow’s league tie against Leicester City at The Etihad and currently sit five points behind leaders Chelsea.
And having clinched the league in dramatic fashion in 2012 and 2014, Hart conceded that his side must repeat their efforts in order to overhaul Jose Mourinho’s side.
“I’m not that bothered about topping those previous seasons in terms of drama – winning the league is the most important thing whether we do it dramatically or not,” he told the club’s website.
“It’d be nice not to have to do it that way but it looks as though it will have to be if we’re going to win it.”
City have stuttered since the New Year, crashing out of the FA Cup to Middlesbrough, while they have won just two of their last seven league games.
They also face an uphill battle in the Champions League after their 2-1 home defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of their last 16 clash.
Most recently, City fell to Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and Hart says it’s imperative the side get the ball rolling against the Foxes.
“We start again against Leicester and we have to try and get some momentum going. The season is full of highs and lows and that’s the beauty of this league,” he added.
“Chelsea have experienced it and look at Liverpool – they looked as though they could be relegated the way they started the season.
“Now they’re flying and looking like they will qualify for the Champions League. We just need to catch fire at the right time.”
Meanwhile, manager Manuel Pellegrini has called on his team to remember last season’s form, which saw them claim two major trophies.
The Chilean was coy on his starting line-up, particularly in attack, with Wilfried Bony being tipped for his first start for City, likely alongside star striker Sergio Aguero.
“It’s important to trust in what we do because I think it’s the same team won the League Cup and Premier League last season, and that scored a lot of goals,” he told a press conference.
“The most important thing for me is to try and continue playing with our style of play which we are not going to change.
“Then you must talk about the tactical systems, 4-4-2 or one up front. This team plays with all tactics, with two strikers, one striker, with no striker.”
Main image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
