Defender predicting a tough tie against the champions
NORWICH City defender Michael Turner has called on his team-mates to be ready for a ‘tough game’ against Manchester City at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Turner was part of the side that slipped to a tight 1-0 defeat at the hands of European champions Chelsea on Boxing Day, but there is no let up as Roberto Mancini’s Barclays Premier League champions come to town.
Juan Mata’s stunning strike was all that separated City and Chelsea, but with focus now switched to the Manchester City game, Turner will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his former team Sunderland, who beat the champions 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.
He told Canaries Player: “It’ll be a tough game against Manchester City – they’re champions of the league and they’ve got world class players.
“It’s only a few days after Chelsea so it’s going to be tough, and they lost to Sunderland so they’re going to want to bounce back and beat us. It’ll be a tough game whatever happens.
“I think we need to play similarly to the games that we’ve won here [at Carrow Road], keeping it tight and hopefully create chances, score goals, and get something from the game.
“Sunderland have beaten them 1-0 a few times now and they obviously know what to do against them. We just hope to perform like we have done in recent weeks and hopefully get something from the game.”
Since joining from the Black Cats in the summer, Turner has now settled well into life at Carrow Road, and admits he is enjoying playing alongside central defensive partner and fellow summer recruit Sebastien Bassong.
He added: “I’m pleased with how I’m playing, and the partnership is going well. We’re disappointed that we haven’t kept a clean sheet in the last few games but I think things are going in the right direction with Seb and I, as well as defending as a team. We need to keep it going.
“I think we’d have taken 25 points after being halfway through. It was a difficult start for me personally but I like to think I’ve shown the consistent form I know I can produce.”
Norwich’s defeat to Chelsea ended a run of five consecutive home victories in the league, although the gap to 18th placed Wigan remains at ten points after what was a close fought game.
Turner said: “It was a tough game, and it was always going to be – they’re a top team with some top players.
“We knew it was going to be a test and we tried to keep it tight as we have done in other games here against big teams and we did that.
“Going behind was a bit of a disappointment, but we kept plugging away and were maybe a little bit unlucky in the end, we could have got something.
“We didn’t create too many chances but we kept in touch with them at 1-0 down, and when you’re in that situation then no matter how well or bad you’ve played there’s always a chance that you can get something from the game.
“We were pleased with how we defended in the game and we did limit them to very few chances, but they got that one and went in front which was disappointing.”