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Shay Given Keeping His Feet On The Ground At Manchester City

Pressure will bring prizes if focus is maintained, insists Irishman

Sep 20, 2009 12:52:31 PM

Manchester City's Shay Given prior to his debut; a clean-sheet against Middlesbrough

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Manchester City's Shay Given prior to his debut; a clean-sheet against Middlesbrough

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Shay Given

Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given is refusing to allow early-season talk of glory at Eastlands affect his performances, and maintains that focus shouldn't stray from the previously stated aim of reaching the top six of the Premier League.

Some observers have already begun to tip City for the title after their unbeaten start to the campaign, but Given, ahead of today's eagerly anticipated derby with Manchester United at Old Trafford, is urging a little more realism and caution in his assessment of things.

"We are excited with the start we have made but I can't sit here and say we are going to win this and that," he told the News of the World.

"Is the top four a possibility? It is too early to say. The owners have said top six and there's no reason why we can't do that.

"Who knows if we will win something this year? I want to do it sooner rather than later. I've come here to win trophies and the manager [Mark Hughes] is the same.

"He wants to win trophies as a manager, I want to win them as a player. When he walks in a room you sit up and listen."

Moving to City from Newcastle United last January has brought greater pressure to Given, but the Republic of Ireland international has welcomed that extra burden, believing that such pressure is essential if a team is to push itself onto the kind of success that City are chasing.

"People don't know how far we can go. We go out at the weekend and we think we can beat any team really," he added.

"There is pressure on us because of the money we have invested in the summer but it's what I expected and it will get higher.

"The players we have bought have been in high pressure situations before, they've played for big clubs. You would rather be at a big club with big pressure.

"You don't want to live in the comfort zone. You want to challenge yourself every week. That is definitely going to be the case here.

"You know you have to be right on top of your game because the spotlight is on the club so much. When Manchester City roll into town now, people are coming to watch."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK

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