The 27-year-old striker believes the match against Manchester United on Monday still holds importance and recalls fond memories of last season’s 6-1 victory at Old Trafford
Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko insists the derby clash against Manchester United is still of major significance, despite the Red Devils’ 15-point lead in the table.
City find themselves second in the Premier League table, five points ahead of closest rivals Tottenham, but with the title well and truly out of sight.
However, 27-year-old Dzeko claims Monday’s trip to Old Trafford remains all-important, with the chance of getting one over their fiercest rivals providing plenty of motivation.
“It’s a very important game even if we are 15 points behind because the derby is always the derby,” Dzeko told the club’s official website.
“It’s the best league game of the season and we will do our best to try and win there.
“To win the derby always means a lot – for us and for our fans it is very important.”
The Bosnian international still has fond memories of last year’s trip across the city, recalling the Sky Blues’ 6-1 victory at Old Trafford, but recognises it would be difficult to repeat the feat.
“It would be difficult to do it again! Games like that tend to be one offs, I would be happy with 1-0!” he smiled.
“It is obviously difficult to play at United’s ground too, it’s much better for us to play at home at the Etihad Stadium with our fans because the atmosphere is much better for us.
“But we have to go to their ground now, our fans will be there and they will be loud and we will do our best on the pitch.
“We are a very good team and we know we can win at Old Trafford. We won there last season and so it is nothing new for us.”
While many fans and pundits have written off City’s chances of retaining their title, Dzeko believes if they can get a victory in Monday night’s game, anything is possible.
“There’s still seven games left and everything is possible but for now we are just focused on the game against United,” he added.
“We’re not looking too far ahead just yet, we just want to make sure we come away from this game with a win.”