Vass positive over UEFA draw

Three City stars have given their reaction to this week’s UEFA Cup draw on MCFCTV.com.

We caught up with Darius Vassell, Michael Johnson and Micah Richards at the Carrington training ground, the trio all currently working on getting back to full fitness with an eye on the upcoming European fixtures.

Darius, out of action since picking up a knee injury in the pre-season game against Milan, told us: “I’m positive, for me it does not matter who we get because in the UEFA Cup when you have a squad like we are building here we are always going to have a chance.

“For clubs like us, that can finish in the top six or top eight of the league, this competition is one we are capable of winning so we have to take it seriously. It was disappointing to get knocked out of the Carling Cup and I know that the Manager would like to come away with a trophy in his first season here.”

Assessing the group, which sees City pitted against FC Twente, Schalke 04, Paris St Germain and Racing Santander, Johnno says: “It’s an interesting draw, in the end I think we ended up with one of the hardest groups. We don’t know too much about the teams as yet, but we know that these clubs are big names and it’s going to be tough to get through.

“The fans love the big occasions at the stadium and especially these European games, so hopefully we can put on some more good performances for them. With the squad we have got, we know we are good enough to win it. We’ll need a bit of luck but also that determination to win it, and then we’ll be giving ourselves a good chance.”

Micah echoes his words, saying that City should be positive with the squad that they have ready to be used to the full.

“It looks a pretty tough draw, but I’m sure that on our day we can beat the teams we are going to come up against, especially our home games. If we get a decent point or two away, then I think we’ll be alright.

“The experience will benefit us, what we are coming up against is that we have had a lot of games already and that’s something we are not used to. But that’s the point of having a big squad and hopefully we’ll be alright.”