Chelsea trio may lead farewell of local legends

While six English players have featured in more than 20 matches in Liverpool’s challenge, only Joe Hart and James Milner at City have played in more than 10.

And while Liverpool have had Englishmen on the field for more than 40 per cent of the total time played, that figure is an alarmingly low 14 per cent at City.

Even City’s achievement in scoring 100 League goals has gone largely unnoticed while the Merseysiders have hogged the limelight thanks to the scoring exploits of Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge.

With City needing just a point at home to West Ham today to be champions – Liverpool must beat Newcastle in case Manuel Pellegrini’s men slip up – nobody feels the lack of respect more deeply than City defender Martin Demichelis. After savage criticism, it is personal.

Written off as a slow, pony-tailed buffoon as City were beaten by Chelsea and Barcelona, the former Bayern Munich and Argentina defender has come to symbolise the club’s great comeback.

From being regarded as a joke by City fans and lambasted in TV studios, he is fast-emerging a popular cult figure and his remarkable renaissance has vindicated Pellegrini’s decision to bring the 33-year-old over from La Liga where they had worked together at Malaga.

‘The people who criticised me needed to be more respectful of me and what I’ve done during my career,’ said Demichelis. ‘I’ve now played nearly 11 years in Europe, including eight at Bayern Munich and I’ve won many trophies. That is not by chance. But I’m very grateful to Manuel for the support he has shown me.’

Demichelis also scored for Argentina at the last World Cup but that pedigree was ignored when he was sent off in the Champions League for bringing down Lionel Messi.

It was only when he became the team’s leader after Vincent Kompany was sent off at Hull on March 15 that his and City’s season was transformed.

‘I didn’t read and I try not to listen to too much of the criticism, but there was too much of it,’ he said. ‘The penalty against Messi and Barcelona was one incident in a match where I actually thought I was playing really well.

‘I started the season with an injury and I needed time to adjust physically. But as time has gone on, I have found my rhythm and been on an upward curve. And since that Barcelona game, I feel I’ve played at a high level for the last three months.

‘I’ve been through a lot of this through my career. But at no point did I stop believing in my own ability.

‘I always thought I could do this and I’m now where I want to be. I was well-respected in Germany who won many titles. There were no problems in Munich but I was a THE futures of Chelsea stalwarts John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are up in the air as the Premier League prepares to bid farewell to some of their great servants today.

Terry and Cole, both 33, and 35-year-old Lampard, have enjoyed stellar newly-arrived foreign player here.’ What was d a magi n g when Demichelis struggled was that it reflected badly on Pellegrini’s judgment.

While Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was lauded for his attacking philosophy and Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho hailed as a master of tactics, City lost their way after Sergio Aguero’s injury problems began in late January and the old doubts over Pellegrini – he has never won a major trophy in Europe – resurfaced.

Defeats against Barca and Wigan in the FA Cup destroyed a tilt at a unique Quadruple although City did win the Capital One Cup.

Yet when Chelsea and Liverpool careers at Stamford Bridge and Jose Mourinho insists he will consider trying to re-sign the out-of-contract trio.

Ryan Giggs, Shola Ameobi and Tony Hibbert are also out of contract this summer and set for farewells.

Giggs is waiting to see if he will be offered a new deal by incoming manager Louis van Gaal while Ameobi is expecting to be shown the door by Newcastle after 14 years.

Everton’s Hibbert, who made his debut in 2001, has not heard about a new contract. slipped recently, City took advantage. Chelsea lost at Crystal Palace, Liverpool only drew there but City won 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

Having failed to lift La Liga with Real Madrid, Pellegrini is about to become a major winner. And he thinks the Premier League would be a bigger achievement.

‘The Premier League is the hardest to win. It’s the most competitive,’ he said. ‘Barcelona and Real Madrid have important players, so do Bayern, but here there are five or six teams with a lot of potential in their squad. The intensity makes it different to anywhere else – every game is a final.’

He is taking nothing for granted today even though West Ham are safe and have nothing to play for.

‘We’ve planned for West Ham. We always consider the other team and their characteristics,’ he said.

‘Andy Carroll is a very important player. West Ham play a lot to his strengths and we must be worried about that, pay attention and concentrate with our defending.’

City nearly slipped up two years ago in the final game against QPR before Aguero’s late winner, so there will be no complacency today.

Demichelis is amused at the prospect of a duel with another ‘ponytail’ in this title decider. ‘Carroll’s