Javier Garrido Ready To Step In For Wayne Bridge At Manchester City
Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 by Goal.com
Specialist left-back readying himself for capital test...
Manchester City left-back Javier Garrido is readying himself to step into Roberto Mancini's first-choice line-up when they travel south to meet Fulham this weekend.
Wayne Bridge is sidelined having undergone a hernia operation, and Garrido, who is a specialist left-back, hopes to beat the likes of Joleon Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta and Gareth Barry to the position.
"In the last few games we’ve seen other players slotting in at left-back when necessary, but hopefully I will get my chance to be involved in the team," the Spaniard told City's official website.
"I didn’t play for a while when Mark Hughes was here, but when Roberto took charge he gave me an opportunity almost straight away.
"That gave me a lot of confidence and I think that showed through in my performances."
Garrido feels that City have no reason for overconfidence going into the game with Fulham, who haven't lost in the last five meetings between the clubs.
"In my first season we drew 3-3 at Craven Cottage after being ahead, and they came from 2-0 to draw 2-2 at our ground earlier this season," he added.
"They’ve done really well against us in recent years, both home and away, and they have always caused us problems. I’ve watched them a number of times in the Europa League and they’ve done really well and have a good manager in Roy Hodgson.
"They try and play good football and so do we, but they have definitely had the edge over the past three or four seasons, but there is no reason we can’t win this game – we need a victory to keep the pressure on the teams around us.
"I think every team who plays us now wants to beat us because of what has happened to the club in the past couple of years.
"I think sometimes we have had a stronger mentality against the best teams and the results against Arsenal and Chelsea have proved that to be true, but we have to have that same focus against every team we play if we are to finish in the top four."
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