Adam Johnson "Man City season a disapointment" (1 Viewer)

Coventry La La La · May 3, 2011

With a Wembley Cup final and a place in next season's Champions League beckoning for Manchester City, you'd expect some quiet satisfaction about their first season as serious contenders.

But, according to their England winger Adam Jonson, the overriding feeling at Eastlands is one of frustration.

While the Abu Dhabi millions heaped expectation and pressure on the Blues to be competitive immediately, few seriously considered they could be champions.
But Johnson did.

And he admitted yesterday, after City took another giant stride towards a top four finish, to a gnawing annoyance that his side are not slugging it out with bitter rivals Manchester United for the Premier League crown.

"I think we are good enough to have challenged for the title, and personally, I think we should be up there now with the squad we have - I'm disappointed we're not," Johnson conceded.

"I think we always had that belief. A lot is made about us not being a close group and all this sort of stuff, but I've not been in a better dressing room for banter and the lads knitting as one.

"I think a lot of people think maybe we ought to have been challenging, but there was a couple of iffy results which we should have won. Things could have been different but it's been a learning process for us.

"Hopefully it will be different next season and we will know what it's about not. I'm disappointed, but it wasn't to be and I think we will learn from that, push on next season and be right in the mix."

The way City are ending the season suggests they have the desire and competitive spirit under pressure to become winners.

The Wembley triumph over United in the Manchester derby FA Cup semi-final displayed that ability, and the manner in which they have shaken off Spurs' challenge for the final Champions League spot offers much hope for next season.

For Johnson, that can only be positive, because it shows the current squad is beginning to mature and come together, despite the criticism that has often been levelled at them during the current campaign.

"Lots been made of our squad not being together, but for us in the dressing room we've always had a belief in ourselves, and I think you could say it's made us even stronger now, the way the results have gone," he explained.

"Maybe the win over United was a turning point, by giving us a little bit more belief. But I think we had the belief we would do it anyway. It was just about going on the pitch and doing it.

"I don't think it's made a major difference around the club. After looking back, hopefully there will be a lot of other big things in years to come. I think it's up to us now. That game has gone. Hopefully we are going to make history and push on to next season and win even more trophies."

The FA Cup final can provide that - and the lure of the Champions League next season is strong for a squad with top class players who are not afraid to show their unbridled ambition.

Johnson himself admits the romance of the competition has always held a strong attraction for him, ever since he watched Newcastle play against the likes of Barcelona back in the days of his idol David Ginola.

"It's the biggest club competition in the world - playing against the best teams in the world in massive stadiums. That's what you dream about when you're growing up as a kid, playing in massive arenas in massive games,"

he explained.

"I used to watch Newcastle in the Champions League, I remember Barcelona and those nights - Tino Asprilla and people like that. Those were the nights when I was growing up as a kid. Obviously, night matches were a bit special for me.

"I can't remember if I was allowed to stay up actually! I think I was or maybe I was just in the bedroom with my door locked. I remember the 3-2 game, Gillespie set a few up with crosses. It was a game that stuck in my memory in the Champions League.
"As an Englishman growing up, watching English clubs in the Champions League was massive. Those were special nights.

"It was more Ginola for me though. I looked to him and Ryan Giggs. But that night he stood out as winger. It was more just about Newcastle that night. There was something about that night - the goals that went in and Asprilla scoring a hat trick. It was one of those nights wasn't it?

"I hope we can have a few of those."

Adam Johnson "Man City season a disapointment" (1 Viewer)

Coventry La La La

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Adam Johnson "Man City season a disapointment" (1 Viewer)

Coventry La La La

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