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‘We’re really down’: Jack Rodwell calls on Manchester City team mates to put blues behind them against Reading

By Colin Henrys

Promising Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell is targeting a strong end to the season as the Blues look to end a disappointing season on a high.

The club have endured a nightmare few days losing to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final before manager Roberto Mancini’s sacking last night.

But Rodwell urged City to build a platform for next year’s campaign, starting with victory at Reading tonight.

“It just wasn’t our day and we didn’t live up to what we can do,” he told the club website.

“We’ve won nothing this year and if that isn’t a big enough motivation for us to kick on again, then we shouldn’t be playing.

“We have to pick ourselves up, we’re really down, but that’s football. Wigan were good, but we just weren’t at the races. We went down to 10 men and found it really hard.

“Winning trophies is why I joined the club. We have big ambitions. We didn’t perform against Wigan but we’ll learn from this.”

A second-half substitute at Wembley, Rodwell could be in line for a start tonight as caretaker boss Brian Kidd looks to shuffle the pack.

And the 22-year-old summer signing from Everton admits City failed to perform in Saturday’s showdown.

“At half-time the manager said work harder and give it that little bit more,” he revealed.

“They looked like they were giving that extra bit in the first-half. Our overall play should have been a lot better. We just didn’t make enough chances.

“I don’t know if that was whether Wigan were really good or we were really poor, or a bit of both. That’s how it goes sometimes.”

Image courtesy of mcfcofficial via YouTube, with thanks.

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