Man City can still overhaul United: Barry
26 Dec 2012 12:47 AM GMT
Gareth Barry is confident Manchester City will be able to chase down Manchester United at the top of the table as the champions prepare to face Sunderland on Wednesday.
Roberto Mancini’s team have responded to their 3-2 defeat in the Manchester derby earlier this month with consecutive victories.
That loss to their bitter rivals increased United’s lead to six points but second placed City managed to reduce the deficit to four over the weekend.
Barry scored in stoppage-time to secure a 1-0 win over a stubborn Reading side on Saturday before United dropped two points with a 1-1 draw at Swansea on Sunday.
England midfielder Barry, 31, acknowledges that United’s home games against Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion over the Christmas period are easier than City’s trips to Sunderland and Norwich.
But City overturned United’s eight-point lead in the final six games of last season to win the Premier League title and Barry is adamant Mancini’s side have a similar determination this time around.
‘When there’s a little gap it’s important that you don’t slip any further behind,’ Barry said. ‘If we can keep chipping away hopefully we can be there at the end of the season.
‘It’s going to be a big Christmas and looking at the fixtures, they didn’t fall that kindly for us, with two away games with the distances we’ve got to travel.
‘They’re tough games but we showed a great performance at Newcastle and we’ve got to do the same over Christmas.’
Roberto Mancini’s team have responded to their 3-2 defeat in the Manchester derby earlier this month with consecutive victories.
That loss to their bitter rivals increased United’s lead to six points but second placed City managed to reduce the deficit to four over the weekend.
Barry scored in stoppage-time to secure a 1-0 win over a stubborn Reading side on Saturday before United dropped two points with a 1-1 draw at Swansea on Sunday.
England midfielder Barry, 31, acknowledges that United’s home games against Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion over the Christmas period are easier than City’s trips to Sunderland and Norwich.
But City overturned United’s eight-point lead in the final six games of last season to win the Premier League title and Barry is adamant Mancini’s side have a similar determination this time around.
‘When there’s a little gap it’s important that you don’t slip any further behind,’ Barry said. ‘If we can keep chipping away hopefully we can be there at the end of the season.
‘It’s going to be a big Christmas and looking at the fixtures, they didn’t fall that kindly for us, with two away games with the distances we’ve got to travel.
‘They’re tough games but we showed a great performance at Newcastle and we’ve got to do the same over Christmas.’
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