Tricky Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has confessed his performances earlier in the season were below-par.
The Frenchman, a £25-million signing from Arsenal last season, was one of the players singled out for criticism by boss Roberto Mancini as City’s Premier League title defence unravelled.
But after scoring the first goal in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory against Chelsea, 25-year-old Nasri believes he has hit top form again.
“I wish I was like this since the start of the season but I had a couple of injuries which stopped me,” he told City TV.
“Now I am playing really well, really great. I am full of confidence.
“I try to do my best for the team and we are going to fight until the end for the league and we want to win the FA Cup. It is the right moment.”
Nasri played a key role in City winning the title last year, including setting up four goals on his debut at Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite starting this season with two goals in two games however, the Frenchman has failed to match those achievements, slipping behind England’s James Milner in the pecking order.
However, after withstanding a late Chelsea comeback to reach their second FA Cup final in three years, Nasri wants City to end the year with a bang.
“We were a little bit tired at the end of the game,” he said.
“We didn’t close the game and they had a chance to come back but the most important thing is that we are in the final.”
Image courtesy of Manchester City, via CityTV, with thanks.
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