April 7 Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has said his team must keep pushing for the Premier League title despite trailing Chelsea by an imposing seven points with eight games remaining.
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Given Guardiola’s past successes with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, there was a belief at the start of the campaign that City would regain the crown.
However, the pair are due to meet again in the Premier League this weekend, and Guardiola will no doubt be hoping for a similar result as they bid to cement their top four status. “For this reason to win the title we need 18 points”, said Conte.
Of all the superstars that the Citizens have signed since their emergence as Premier League and Champions League contenders, David Silva is undoubtedly the player who has delivered the greatest amount of net value.
“When you are seven points above the second-placed team with eight games to go, it is normal in the end to win the league”, said the Tottenham boss. We have to work harder and harder and better and better to minimise these kind of things. “Yet in this season, we are at the same level”.
They appeared set to increase their lead until closest challengers Tottenham completed a stunning late turnaround – beating Swansea City 3-1 after Dele Alli equalised in the 88th minute.
The Catalan also needs to win the FA Cup if he is to avoid the first trophyless season of his career.
‘I knew in the first Champions League game – especially in attack – against Steaua Bucharest when we won 5-0, ‘ he exdplained.
Conte believes there’s more pressure on Chelsea to win the title than their rivals. Right-back Bacary Sagna has also been ruled out for the Hull City clash.
They are unbeaten at home since Marco Silva took over as manager in January.
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Kompany and Delph both acquitted themselves well in central defence and central midfield respectively at Stamford Bridge but Guardiola is understandably wary of asking too much of men who have suffered wretched luck with injuries over the past two seasons. “I read this interview about Pastorello – I don’t know him and I don’t know why this person has spoken about me”.
