The Manchester City view with City Xtra

Their Premier League title may have winged its way to Liverpool, but Manchester City still have plenty to play for when they come to Brighton according to City Xtra.

There is the small matter of winning a first Champions League title, potentially in the same year in which they are banned from the competition for breaking financial fair player rules. And Pep Guardiola’s billion pound squad still have an FA Cup to retain.

Any Albion supporters expecting an easy game from a side who have little to play for could therefore end up disappointed. City will be visiting the Amex not only looking to build form for their other commitments, but with a point to prove having seen Liverpool win the league so easily and having just suffered a rare defeat away at Southampton.

They might take it easy against Graham Potter’s men – but then again, they might not. And who is to say that Potter will even name anything resembling a sensible line up, with one eye on a much more winnable game at Southampton next week?

Matty Dove was the man from City Xtra who talked us through a season which could still yet go down as one of the greatest in Manchester City history as they prepare to make the trip to Brighton.

Liverpool have managed to prise the Premier League title from Manchester City. How does it feel not being champions for the first time since 2017?
Obviously, it’s a massive disappointment, more so because of the nature of how we’ve lost our crown so early. To be so far behind Liverpool and to have lost nine games is the thing City fans will be most upset about, you have to give credit to Liverpool because they’ve been brilliant but I wish we’d pushed them further like they did with us last season.

In the grand scheme of things retaining a title is extremely difficult so to have won the Premier League the last two seasons is brilliant and I just hope we come back strong next season and go for three out of four.

Obviously, there is still plenty to play in the Champions League and FA Cup. How confident are you of adding those two trophies for another historic treble?
Well, that’s why it’s important not to judge the league position too much just yet, if we were to win both the Champions League and FA Cup as well as the Carabao Cup and finish second then that’s an incredible season.

This is our best chance to win the Champions League and I have every confidence we can do it, our performance in Madrid was sublime and with the league out of reach now, we have no excuses when it comes to putting everything into winning the Champions League finally.

As for the FA Cup, it’s a very strong four left in the competition so it will be tough but I think we’re the best of the four so have every chance of adding that trophy too.

Speaking of the Champions League, what is the latest on City’s ban from the competition? Do you think you will win your appeal?
So a decision is due to be announced on the 13th July, from what the Club have said publicly they seem to have every confidence that the ban will be overturned.

Personally I don’t believe the two-year ban will stick however I’d be surprised if there is no punishment, whether that be a huge fine or a one-year ban I’m not sure but it will set a huge precedent for the future of FFP.

UEFA clearly believe there’s been some wrongdoing on our part to place such a huge ban but I’m sure our owners have got some of the world’s best lawyers fighting on our defence!

There seems to have been an increase in the number of rumours swirling around Pep Guardiola’s future in recent weeks. Do you see him still at the Etihad Stadium next season?
100%, I don’t believe regardless of whether City are banned from the Champions League or not that Guardiola will leave at the end of the season.

Pep is contracted until 2021 and he’s spoken many times about how he will honour his contract and has already spoken about plans for next season regarding some players so I have every confidence he will still be in charge next season.

15 weeks off during lockdown seems to have impacted on different teams in different ways. How have City come out of the enforced break?
For the most part it’s been really positive. At home we’ve scored 17 conceded 0 in four games including pasting Liverpool as well as beating Newcastle away in the FA Cup and we’ve looked fantastic.

Phil Foden has really come alive since the restart and Kevin De Bruyne has been sensational as always and looks to be on for the Premier League assist record, two behind Thierry Henry currently.

We’ve had two really disappointing away results though at Chelsea and Southampton. Defensive mistakes have cost us in both games and I think Pep will already be looking at how he can strengthen the defence for next season.

Who have been your star players this season – other than Kevin De Bruyne, who must be a shoe-in for PFA Player of the Year?
I don’t buy into the Jordan Henderson argument, understandably he is an important player for Liverpool but in terms of quality he couldn’t lace Kevin De Bruyne’s boots.

City have won the title four times and never once has a City player won PFA Player Of the Year because of ‘individual brilliance’ of other players.

De Bruyne has to win it for me, especially if he breaks the assist record because he has been the best player in the league; if a Liverpool player is to win it I’d give it to Sadio Mane because he has been brilliant for them.

Riyad Mahrez has really stepped up this season and been impressive, at times last season he was a bit one dimensional but he’s improved massively and is one of the first names on the team sheet now. Phil Foden of course who I mentioned is a real talent for the future and I’m excited to see him more prominently next season.

With the league all but over, is there any chance we could see City playing at less than 100% at the Amex?
Yeah there’s definitely a chance, Brighton should take great confidence from the performance City put in at Southampton, where it was so one sided but we just couldn’t break them down and with Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay looking dangerous on the counter there’s every chance you could hurt us.

I still go into most games believing we’ll win so I’m confident of picking up three points but if players are rested or we’re wasteful again then every chance you could get something.

What did you make of our game at the Etihad back in August? Guardiola had some nice words for Graham Potter and Brighton, even though you turned us over 4-0.
It seems like an absolute lifetime ago for starters! I think the problem you had was City scored so quickly on their way to beating Brighton 4-0; when you concede early on against City you’re in a difficult position where you’re not sure whether to just try and weather the storm or come out and try to attack which obviously leaves space in behind.

I remember a lot of City fans were in praise of Brighton for the football you played on the day, although it didn’t get you a result it was refreshing to see a team come to the Etihad and actually try and play good passing football rather than just trying to put ten defenders behind the ball and make it ugly.

I think you also had chances to score so on another day it might have been a different result but it was a commendable performance.

Finally, what is the City Xtra prediction for Brighton v Manchester City?
Going off our last away game at Southampton, form means nothing if we can’t break the opponents down. But I thought we played really well against a poor Newcastle United on Wednesday and I expect us to come away with the three points again this weekend – sorry! I think as you showed against Liverpool, you have enough to hurt teams but I think we should have too much quality on the day so I’m going for City to win 3-1.

Thanks to Matty from City Xtra for taking the time to answer our questions ahead of Brighton v Manchester City. You can follow Matty on Twitter and read all about City’s season on the excellent City Xtra website.