Kolarov: Resolve will bring us title

Aleksandar Kolarov remains confident Manchester City will retain the Premier League title

14 November 2012

Defender Aleksandar Kolarov insists that if Manchester City show the same resolve that brought them victory over Tottenham on Sunday, they will end up as Premier League champions once more.

Less than 24 hours after Manchester United had come back from two goals down to beat Aston Villa on Saturday, City were underlining the fact their neighbours are not the only ones with unbreakable spirit as they overturned Tottenham's lead to collect three valuable points at the Etihad Stadium.

"I understand why we get so much criticism - everybody wants to beat us because we are the champions and haven't lost any games this season," said the Serbian.

"The smallest teams, and the biggest ones, all want to beat us and give 200 per cent to do that. We have lost games in the Champions League but I think we are still the best team in the Premier League and if we play the way we know how, we will be the champions. If we carry on playing with the same spirit we showed against Spurs, nobody can beat us."

Yet again, Edin Dzeko was the man who bailed City out. The former Wolfsburg man has now scored seven times this season, six of which have come from the bench. It merely underlines why Dzeko is dubbed the Blues' super-sub, even if it is a tag Kolarov's close friend really dislikes.

"I can't explain what it is about Edin," said Kolarov.

"But it is important for us that he continues to score, whether it is from the bench or starting from the first minute. That goes for all the strikers. It's tough when you don't start, not just for him, but also for me and the other players who don't play every game.

"It is hard to keep your form at a high level. But we are professional and need to accept it is the manager's choice."

Kolarov's situation is complicated further by the fact he is not regarded as first-choice left-back by Mancini, who prefers to use the former Lazio man as a wing-back, or midfield, as was the case on Sunday. It is not something he is entirely comfortable with, but it is a job he accepts for now.

"When the manager asks for me, I have to do my best for the team but my preference is left back," he said.

"If you are in a big team, or a big squad, like ours you need to give your best, and whatever the manager asks from you, you need to put on the pitch. It's not important which position you are in, as long as you get in the first eleven."

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