Iheanacho calls for City to maintain focus

LONDON: Kelechi Iheanacho has urged Manchester City to maintain their “focus” as the English Premier League leaders bid to end a run of frustrating results.

City started the season with 10 straight wins under new manager Pep Guardiola.

But their 1-1 draw with Southampton at Eastlands on Sunday means City, top of the table on goal difference, have now gone five games without a victory.

It is a run they will look to snap when they face local rivals Manchester United in the fourth round of the League Cup at Old Trafford tomorrow.

“Teams drop points in the Premier League, we dropped points as well,” said Iheanacho, who came off the bench to score the equaliser against Southampton.

“That is a football game, you don’t know what is going to happen when you play. “Everyone expects high for our team but we are human beings as well. We are footballers, we can make mistakes and we can lose games. We just keep moving, keep our heads straight and focus on the next games,” the Nigeria international added.

By drawing with the Saints, City did at least avoid two successive defeats after their midweek 4-0 loss away to Barcelona, the club where Guardiola made his name as both player and manager, in the Champions League.

“It wasn’t our best but I still think we played well and deserved to win,” said Iheanacho of Sunday’s match.

“But it is a game of football. We can lose, win or draw because the opponents are good players as well.” — AFP