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‘Be respectful but don’t be scared’ - Canaries’ boss calls for bravery ahead of Manchester City
Scorers Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki celebrate as Norwich City memorably beat Manchester City 3-2 at Carrow Road, in the high point of their Premier League season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich City must be fearless for Daniel Farke or risk being savaged by Manchester City as they bid farewell to the Premier League.
The relegated Canaries pulled off a shock to stun Pep Guardiola’s stars at Carrow Road earlier this season, but it will take something special on Sunday to avoid a 10th straight league defeat.
Manchester City may have lost their league title to Liverpool but have been in devastating goalscoring form ahead of a Champions League tussle with Real Madrid.
“We are aware what we face. Be respectful but don’t be scared, or just pray they don’t score too many goals,” said Farke.
“Respectful but brave and willing to keep the ball for periods to take away their quality a bit.
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“We need a top-class performance just to be competitive and if we are honest Manchester City would have to be below their level to get some points. Many teams have been hammered by them of late.
“They lost to Southampton, and that could have been a 7-1 win. But we believe we can be competitive.”
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Farke is summoning up the spirit of September’s famous 3-2 home win over the Citizens.
“We have to be good in many of the similar topics we showed that day,” he said. “Our third goal came from us pressing them high right in their own penalty box. Emi Buendia won the ball and Teemu Pukki finished it.
“We had many periods when we could bypass the pressing and create chances, like the second goal.
“We beat Leicester, we beat Tottenham in the cup. We know on our top level we are capable against these type of teams. But I don’t know the last team to beat Manchester City under Pep Guardiola twice in one season.
“Probably never. We need to make their lives as difficult as possible.”
Farke has finally been able to reflect on a season unlike any other in recent days, after football’s three-month pause due to the global pandemic.
“This was the first week really when we could take a breath and reflect a bit on the season,” he said. “A disappointing outcome with relegation, some highlights, sadly not enough to stay in this league.
“But the first time in all our careers a season lasted from June, and pre-season, until the following July. Games behind closed doors, wearing masks everywhere. Strange. This feeling all the odds were against us in those 14 months.”
