Roy Keane is convinced Manchester City will go on and lift the Premier League trophy after the side’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, backing the champions to win all of their remaining games this season.
Hosts Forest started promisingly but fell behind in the 32nd minute, as Josko Gvardiol found the net with a powerful header, before Erling Haaland came on and put the game out of sight in the second half.
The result moved Pep Guardiola’s men – last year’s treble winners – to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who survived a scare to beat Tottenham 3-2 earlier in the day.
However, City have a game in hand over the Gunners ahead their clash with Wolves and Guardiola will no doubt take encouragement from the way his side dug deep to secure maximum points, despite being a long way from their best at the City Ground.
Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the final whistle, the City head coach refused to declare his side as the favourites in the title race and insisted ‘anything can happen’ in the back-end of the campaign.
Asked whether Liverpool remain in the mix after their draw at West Ham, Guardiola replied: ‘Anything can happen. We still have four games, three games for them.
‘What happened with Liverpool dropping points in the last two games can also happen to us, can happen to Arsenal so, yeah, tough games for everyone. Fulham away and Spurs away is really, really difficult.’
While Guardiola is adamant that the title race is still alive, former Manchester United captain Keane said it was, in all likelihood, over for Arsenal and Liverpool as he reflected on the weekend’s action in the Sky Sports studio.
‘City’s players must have great belief in themselves and each other. After 20 to 25 minutes you’re thinking Forest are doing well, creating chances, but you’re still thinking that City will eventually get themselves going,’ Keane said.
‘In the second half City got more control, they bring Haaland on, [Kevin] De Bruyne then starts flexing his muscles.
‘De Bruyne, for his two goals, generally wasn’t at his very best, but they know they have another gear to go to.
‘They had a tough game in midweek and they were outstanding. Today it was a case of let’s get this job done.
‘Phil Foden was a loss but the one thing I look at when I look at Manchester City and their players and their subs… the word that springs to mind is “quality”. It’s just pure quality from the players they’ve got.
‘Even today when they weren’t at it, they can turn to set pieces with their delivery, people attacking the ball, options off the bench. It’s so difficult to stop.’
Keane believes City may be ‘concerned’ with the chances they conceded away to 17th-placed Forest but is confident the reigning champions will win all of their remaining games to secure a fourth straight title.
‘They will certainly be concerned with the chances they gave up in the first half but listen, in the second half they were a lot more controlling and it’s not a bad option bringing players on like Haaland,’ the ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder added.
‘Missing Foden, so it’s the same old story with Manchester City even when they’re not at their best – they know how to win football matches. They’ve got good options off the bench.
‘It’s a really good habit they’ve got from over the last few years, winning football matches.
‘I think City will win every game now. I was worried with the way they started, I thought could they slip up?
‘Forest missed chances, but a big and important win here for City today.’
Asked whether the trip to Forest was the biggest hurdle they had left, Keane replied: ‘I think so and on the back of the Brighton game which obviously took a lot out of them.
‘Arsenal played before them and won so there was a lot of pressure and Forest are obviously fighting relegation so they were obviously going to come out with that fight.
‘Obviously Forest have played some games with the pitches and making it dry, of course, but I think that’s the game.
‘I think that result is the title for Manchester City now, I really do.’
Micah Richards picked out Tottenham away as City’s toughest remaining fixture, but Keane doubts Ange Postecoglou’s men will worry the champions too much on the evidence of their display against Arsenal.
‘Spurs away, I think that is the game. If they win that game comfortably then they will win the league,’ former City and England defender Richards said.
‘I think Spurs could trouble Manchester City, they have done before with how aggressive they are on the press, their transition is good, they’ve got pace on the wings, pace in behind with Son.
‘But that’s the game I’m looking at if I’m Man City.’
Keane responded: ‘You saw Spurs today as well did you?
‘So you think that Spurs team or that performance would hurt Manchester City?’
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