what the papers say

Stevie seeks to end away-day woes

Stevie Ireland spoke to the press after Thursday's game, and ahe addresses our away form in light of what Ian Ladyman rightky calls aa creditable draw in Denmark.

Daily Mail

"Ireland's rallying cry for struggling City to end away day blues"

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has found himself exempt from the criticism that has come the way of Mark Hughes under-performing squad.

So perhaps the young Irishman was speaking from a position of strength on Friday when he told his team-mates that there is no excuse for their stumbling efforts away from home.

Ireland scored one of the goals in City’s creditable 2-2 UEFA Cup draw at Copenhagen on Thursday night but knows Hughes’ team will be asked more searching questions at Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

Asked about City’s dismal away League record, which has seen them win just once away from Eastlands, Ireland said: ‘It’s really hard to answer why.

'Games we’re not expected to win away are ones we maybe win or go close to winning, but those we’re expected to win, we haven’t been doing.

‘It’s about making sure we match the other team’s efforts and making sure we run harder and work harder than them.

'I want to win for myself, the team and especially the gaffer. I really enjoy playing under him. He must stay.’

The Times

"Manchester City desperate to cure travel sickness"

Although the snow had partially relented, the temperature was plummeting by the time Stephen Ireland stopped to talk to the press in a bleak, desolate corner of the Parken Stadium after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw away to Copenhagen in the Uefa Cup on Thursday evening.

Nothing is too much trouble for the 22-year-old these days and as he addressed, with an eloquence belying his relative youth, City’s weaknesses before a daunting trip to play Liverpool tomorrow, the midfield player’s assessment of his team’s failings, particularly on the road this season, felt as stark as the surroundings.

If other players had approached games with the same level of application as Ireland this season, Mark Hughes’s future as City manager would probably not be open to debate. Instead, stories linking Luiz Felipe Scolari, the former Chelsea manager, and José Mourinho, the Inter Milan coach, continue to surface as City’s away form in the Barclays Premier League goes from bad to worse.

Hughes, in turn, has felt compelled to criticise the attitude shown by some players on their travels in recent weeks and Ireland clearly believes that such criticism is justified, with the midfield player suggesting that it is time the team dig deeper and work harder for a manager he hopes to work under for years to come.

With Liverpool firmly expected to win tomorrow, Ireland believes that it would be the perfect time to spring a surprise and claim what would be only City’s second win in 13 Premier League matches away from home this campaign. “Yes, of course,” Ireland said when asked if it hurt the players to hear Hughes keep questioning their attitude away from home. “We’ve had a lot of discussions about this now. We need to start from the off because we start sloppily [away from home] and that puts us on the back foot.

“I think it’s about comparing ourselves to the other team and making sure we match or better their efforts, run harder and work harder than them. You’re not going to win a game in the Premier League if you don’t work hard. I go into every game with the mentality of a winner. I want to win for myself, the team and especially for the gaffer because it’s important he stays. I enjoy playing under him.

“A lot of the players are the same and want to win, but there’s the odd time when someone switches off and we concede goals. More often than not everyone in the team really wants to win, but I just think it’s down to a lack of concentration for a split second and things like that.”

Apart from a continuing inability to defend against crosses or set-pieces and the fact that Copenhagen were allowed to snatch an undeserved draw in stoppage time, there were grounds for encouragement in Denmark with the team demonstrating far greater determination than they have in recent away games, particularly the 2-0 defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park last Saturday.

Ireland believes that City need to show the same stomach for the fight against Liverpool, although he has no doubts that Craig Bellamy will not be found wanting in that department against his former club. Liverpool’s decision to sell Bellamy to West Ham United in July 2007 still rankles with the Wales striker. “I think Craig’s going to want to prove a point against Liverpool and hopefully score a goal,” Ireland said.

Although Ireland is contracted to City until June 2012, talks about an improved deal could begin before the end of the season, with the midfield player eager to stay at the club for years to come.

“I’m not really thinking about another negotiation as much as I’d love to stay here for a long time, but I’d love to sit down and the club show me that they are as serious about me as I am about them,” he said.