Paul Merson has warned Man City need to be at “full throttle” if they are to win this season’s Champions League and explains why Ruben Dias is his choice for player of the year over Bruno Fernandes.
Raheem Sterling’s early goal won the game for Pep Guardiola’s side against Arsenal on Sunday, their 13th consecutive Premier League victory, meaning they remain 10 points clear of second-placed Manchester United.
The Gunners failed to land a glove on the league leaders as they eased to victory at the Emirates Stadium to seal an 18th consecutive win in all competitions with attention now turning towards their Champions League campaign and their last-16 clash with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.
And while they may not have needed to get out of “second gear” to dispatch of Mikel Arteta’s side, Merson insists they will need to be at “full throttle” if they are to finally lay their hands on the Champions League trophy.
Merson: My concern for Man City
“Against Arsenal, who are not the best team at the moment, Manchester City didn’t come out of second gear,” he told Sky Sports.
“That’s a dangerous game, though, in my opinion, and they’ve got to get out of that mindset if they want to go all the way in the Champions League.
“They played well within themselves at the Emirates and, for me, it got a bit worrying because it only takes one thing to happen in the game and it’s 1-1.
“Before you know it, that’s it. You are sitting there after the game scratching your head, wondering how you didn’t win the game.”
“I’ve seen that enough times from Man City over the years, especially in the Champions League.
‘City need to be at full throttle for CL success’
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s win over Arsenal in the Premier League.
“That’s my only concern for Man City,” he added.”
“It’s nice to have gears to go through but when it’s tight like it was against Arsenal, it only needs something out of the ordinary to peg them back.
“When you come down to the business end of the season and it’s coming down to only one or two games for quadruples, you’ve got to be ruthless and not be playing in second or third gear.
“You’ve got to go full throttle.”
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‘Dias over Fernandes for player of the year’
Ruben Dias has helped Man City to 15 clean sheets so far this season
A player who can help Manchester City to Champions League success and win what has so far proved an elusive trophy for Guardiola’s men is defender Ruben Dias, according to Merson.
The Portuguese defender was in brilliant form once again as his man of the match display helped City to a 15th clean sheet in their victory over Arsenal.
And Merson thinks the 23-year-old defender, who moved to the Etihad Stadium from Benfica in a deal worth £65m, is the leading candidate for player of the year ahead of Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
“I like to go with someone [for player of the year] who has had an effect on a team winning something,” he said.
“I really do like Bruno Fernandes. I love what he’s done at Manchester United. People say he cannot be compared to Eric Cantona until United do what that side did in terms of trophies, but what more can he do?
“He is doing his job and doing it unbelievably well. All he can do is create chances and score goals, and that’s exactly what he’s doing, but he can’t defend all at the same time. He’s not the one letting in soft goals every now and then. He can only keep doing his job to the best of his ability and he has carried a massive football club on his shoulders. That takes some doing, believe me.”
‘Players are fearful of Dias’
Dias has been a revelation for City since joining from Benfica
“However, I look at Ruben Dias and think, wow!” he added.
“Did you ever see Man City conceding the least amount of goals in a season in this league? I think he’s starting to get the reputation of someone like Virgil van Dijk.
“When you watch him now, I think players are fearful of him. They get him in a one on one situation, and they think they cannot get past him. He’s got that fear factor.
“At the moment, I can’t look past him for player of the season.
“Fernandes has been great, don’t get me wrong. He’s done what he’s had to do and more, but I always think, when you are talking player of the season, you have to pick someone who has won the league.
“When Kevin De Bruyne won it last year, I just can’t see how a player wins it when another team have won the league by a mile. If you are a Liverpool player, you are sitting there scratching your head thinking about the numbers you’d put together and one of your players is not player of the year. It’s a team game and you’ve got to pick a player from the team that’s won it. You never get man of the match from a losing team.
“That’s why I’m going with Dias. He has made Man City a far better team than what they were last season.
‘Dias’ arrival has improved Stones’
John Stones has been in fine form alongside Dias
“They now have a big chance of winning the Champions League with him in the team. He’s also got someone next to him in John Stones who looks a completely different player.
“He looks back to where we thought he would be. He’s looked at Dias and thought about how everyone is going mad about and saying what a great defender he is. He just defends. He is a defender, simple as that.
“He can pass the ball and spray it about, but he doesn’t do Cruyff turns or take unnecessary risks. He just defends and Stones has looked at that and said that’s what he’s going to do. He’s done that and fair play to Stones for that. He’s been great alongside Dias.
“For those reasons, I have to go with Dias.”
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