Ex-Man City star Georgios Samaras has say on title race

Georgios Samaras makes huge admission over Man City move & has say on title race

• "I didn't feel like it was the right step for my development at that stage to go and sign for a bigger club in the Premier League. Let's be honest, Man City, at that point, were a mid-table club. I was afraid, or at least I didn't feel comfortable, going to a bigger club..."
• "I moved over to England by myself, and adapting to life in Manchester was very easy, to be honest. It took me a couple of weeks - maybe more - to catch up with the pace of the Premier League, but the transition was really easy for me, both on and off the pitch."
• "The challenge for me was having to prove, every season, to the new management, that I was worthy of being there. After a while, though, I felt I needed to move on. I had to take myself away and that's when I made the decision to sign for Celtic."
• "What I am sure of, is that Liverpool and Arsenal will remain strong mentally, despite those results. Yes, they lost, but they haven't lost the title yet; there's still a lot of football to be played and lots of opportunities for things to turn around again, and that's something Man City need to be aware of - and I'm sure they will be."
• "I still believe that all three teams will be going into the last game of the season with a chance of winning the title. The team which wins the title from this point, will be the team which are the strongest, mentally."
  

My relationship with the club is good. I respect the people there and they respect me too. I had talks with a lot of clubs - directors and managers - and a lot of phone calls and meetings before signing for City. I will not say which clubs because it's many years ago now, so there's no point, but also out of respect, as those conversations were private. 

So why Man City? As a 21-year-old at the time, I felt the conversations with them were so positive, and at that stage in my career, I felt like what they had planned for their immediate future really matched what I wanted to achieve. They were going to grow as a club and I wanted to be a part of it. I also knew I was going to go there and play, and so I liked the idea of myself and the club growing together.  

I didn't feel like it was the right step for my development at that stage to go and sign for a bigger club in the Premier League. Let's be honest, Man City, at that point, were a mid-table club. I was afraid, or at least I didn't feel comfortable, going to a bigger club because I knew I wouldn't get the minutes I wanted. I was a national player who was trying to keep his position, so I had to consider that, and I just liked what was presented to me at City. 

I had a great conversation back then with the manager, Stuart Pearce, and the executive director, Alistair Mackintosh. I felt good with these people, and that helped me make the decision to move. 

 I moved over to England by myself, and adapting to life in Manchester was very easy, to be honest. It took me a couple of weeks - maybe more - to catch up with the pace of the Premier League, but the transition was really easy for me, both on and off the pitch. 

I moved into a place in Cheadle Hulme, an area just outside of Manchester, because I was trying to stay away from the city centre. I wanted to be away from all of that, in my house, where I could concentrate on my own daily programme, being disciplined and developing. I liked having a house away from all of the noise and I suppose you could say that made me a little bit boring, because my life was just going to the training ground, then back home, repeating that every day!

I felt no pressure at all in the first 18 months with Man City, to be honest with you. I was feeling very comfortable, but the challenge came after that point. I saw three different boards, and three different managers. After the first year, the club was sold to Thaksin Shinawatra, which meant there was more money to spend, bigger players coming in, a new coach... all of this. And then, after that, the club was once again sold to the guys who are in charge today. So, again, that meant a new manager and new players. The challenge for me was having to prove, every season, to the new management, that I was worthy of being there. After a while, though, I felt I needed to move on. I had to take myself away and that's when I made the decision to sign for Celtic. 

It's a surprise to see both Liverpool and Arsenal losing at home on Sunday, but this kind of thing can happen... that's football. You're never guaranteed three points; you cannot head into games assuming you're going to win because teams will shock you. As we get further into the season, each game becomes more and more intense. There's a lot of pressure on those three clubs going for the title; pressure from the fans, and the media, as you could make a case for each of those teams winning the title. 

What I am sure of, is that Liverpool and Arsenal will remain strong mentally, despite those results. Yes, they lost, but they haven't lost the title yet; there's still a lot of football to be played and lots of opportunities for things to turn around again, and that's something Man City need to be aware of - and I'm sure they will be. 

I still believe that all three teams will be going into the last game of the season with a chance of winning the title. The team which wins the title from this point, will be the team which are the strongest, mentally.  

It's possible for Man City to go on and win their remaining six games in the Premier League, but at the same time you need to look at who they're up against, and what they're playing four. You know, you might identify Nottingham Forest away as a game which City should go and win... but Forest still need points to stay in the division, so that's not going to be an easy game. It's the same with Tottenham in their penultimate game of the season... they could be going into that game - at home - with a chance of securing a place in the top four so, again, that's going to be a really difficult test for City.