OLE SAYS PSG FEAR RASHFORD
DAVID DE GEA is refusing to budge on his £350,000-a-week wage demands as Manchester United’s bid to persuade their Spanish keeper to sign a new contract remains deadlocked.
De Gea, 28, has told United chiefs that he is prepared to commit his peak years to the club – but only if the price is right.
That pay rise would put him behind only £400,000-a-week Alexis Sanchez in the Old Trafford dressing room. United are reluctant to meet De Gea’s demands but remain confident of a compromise.
DHe has no doubts they can do it again, even though Liverpool regained top spot with yesterday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Pep Guardiola’s City have cranked up the pressure at the top of the Premier League, victories over Huddersfield and Everton catapulting the reigning champions back into a contest that looked over when they lost at Newcastle at the end of last month.
And for Silva, it has evoked memories of his first two title successes.
The Spaniard said: “I think that since I arrived, every time we have had this sort of pressure of having to fight for the Premier League trophy until the end, the team has always worked well. Hopefully this season we’ll be able to do it again.
“We are happy because we are in a good position and we are going to fight until the end.”
Silva, who has made a case to be remembered as City’s greatest player during nine trophy-laden seasons at the
Etihad, is bidding for his fourth title.
Guardiola’s side shattered a host OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER predicts Paris St-Germain will be in a sweat about containing Marcus Rashford. Manchester United are working on a plan to stop French World
Cup winner Kylian Mbappe ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Old Trafford and Solskjaer reckons PSG will have the same worries over 21-year-old Rashford. United’s interim boss said: “There will be comparisons. I’ve seen Mbappe live only once and working with Marcus (left) every single day of Premier League records as they posted 100 points last season. But the likes of Silva, Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany can also call on the lessons they learned under Roberto Mancini and
Manuel Pellegrini.
Six years ago,
City trailed
Manchester
United by eight points with six games left but lifted the title on goal difference when Aguero scored against QPR with the last kick of the season.
Two years later, Steven Gerrard’s slip saw Liverpool collapse with three games to go and City came through to finish top again. The credentials of Guardiola’s side will be put to the test today by Chelsea but Silva said: “We can do it but we need to be in the position of fighting for the title to be able to achieve it again.
“I think we have shown everyone over the last two games, while champions, but the experience of many years and many games in the Premier League, in moments like now, helps you a lot.”
City were first to blink in the title race when they lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in December. And in two weeks they meet Maurizio Sarri’s side in the Carabao Cup Final.
Silva said: “Hopefully we will control the game and score from the chances we create.” CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri has blasted his side’s February fixture congestion. The Blues are facing six games in three competitions in just 18 days and Sarri (left) said: “It’s a lot, especially if you have to play very expensive matches – two against Manchester City, one against Tottenham, one against Manchester United. Then the Europa League (home and away against Malmo), so it’s a little too much.” he’s going to be a top-quality player. PSG will look at Marcus the way we look at Mbappe – he’s one of the main threats.”
United were boosted by the news that Edinson Cavani could miss the tie after picking up a thigh strain against Bordeaux yesterday.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel admitted: “If Edi isn’t in Manchester, of course it’s big. We don’t have a second Edi, or a Neymar.”