Tuesday, 16th February 2010

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong is prepared to scrap it out with Stoke City when his team visit the Britannia Stadium tonight. The tough-tackling Dutchman is aware The Potters are far from a slick passing side, and believes his team-mates must be ready for a feisty battle if they are to come away with three points.

“I like the ball played along the ground a lot, but I think we can expect a lot of long balls against Stoke, so you have to be prepared for the second ball and knock-downs,” de Jong said to the club’s official website. “It’s going to be a battle and it’s probably not the best pitch in the league to play football on at the moment, but we know Stoke away is going to be hard whenever you take them on.”

Man City, who are currently fifth in the league standings, will leapfrog fourth-placed Liverpool if they manage a win or a draw against Stoke tonight.

 

 

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