Shearer: BPL title race is over for City
Barclays Premier League legend Alan Shearer claims that Manchester City will not be able to stop league leaders Manchester United from winning the title this season.
By FOX SPORTS Staff
Second placed City suffered a massive blow to their hopes of retaining the Premier League title when they fell to a shock 3-1 loss to Southampton on Saturday, and with United overcoming Everton 2-0 on Sunday, the Citizens currently find themselves a massive 12 points behind their arch-rivals.
And Shearer, who won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, believes that the Citizens have no chance whatsoever of catching the Red Devils at the top of the table now.
"Until Saturday, I was sure they still had a chance of retaining their Premier League title," Shearer told the Sun.
"But their display in the 3-1 defeat against Southampton has told me there is no coming back now.
"Things have got steadily worse for them over the last fortnight.
"The draw at QPR was down to poor finishing once again, while Liverpool should have beaten them at the Etihad last weekend."
Shearer was also critical of City's performance against the Saints and claimed that the defending Premier League champions sorely missed captain Vincent Kompany, ruled out of the game with injury, marshalling their defence.
"City's passing was awful, their defence shambolic and decision-making simply wrong," Shearer added.
"Without Vincent Kompany, they look rudderless at the back.
"If evidence was needed that Javi Garcia is not a centre-back, it was provided at St Mary's."
Inevitably, City manager Roberto Mancini has come under intense scrutiny, with many have predicting that the Italian tactician would be sacked at the end of the season, but Shearer insists the 48-year-old is still the right man for the job and predicted the Citizens to bounce back even stronger next season.
"People should not question Mancini's position," Shearer declared.
"He set them on the road to success and is still the man for the job.
"By winning the last six games of last season to snatch the title, he proved he can still revive the team - and is also the man to build again.
"Finishing second to United and winning the FA Cup would be nothing to be ashamed of this season.
"The club is still on a learning curve and they will come again.
City will take on Chelsea in their next Premier League fixture.