City v Spurs - analysis with Ledley King

Ledley King certainly experienced highs and lows at City - just one defeat in 11 visits to Maine Road and the Etihad Stadium between 2001-2010, including the match that clinched a place in the Champions League in May, 2010, but then successive losses later in his career, including conceding a last-minute penalty on his last visit in 2012! He knows this fixture inside-out and is full of confidence ahead of this evening's huge game...

Ledley King

- 323 appearances for Spurs 1999-2012
- League Cup winner and captain, 2008
- Skipper at the Etihad as we qualified for the Champions League on May 5, 2010
- Now Club Ambassador

Silva key again

Ledley: “Both teams have shown they can change their playing system - three at the back, four at the back - and there is quality and battles all over the pitch. I thought when we played them at home (a 2-0 win in October) we limited David Silva’s space and he wasn’t able to dictate the game. For me, Silva is huge for them and when he’s not able to dictate the game it takes away a big part of what they want to do in those forward areas. More than anything, that cuts off the main supply to Sergio Aguero. Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele will have an important job to get around Silva and disrupt him.”

Below: David Silva

Flying on the flanks

Ledley: “In our full-backs/wing-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker we have two players who have the capability of going one-against-one against the likes of Raheem Sterling or Jesus Navas and be comfortable in their position. That’s not something every team playing City can call on, players who can keep check on those speedy wide men and push them back the other way. That’s another key area in this game.”

Below: Kyle Walker in action against City in October

Everything is in place

Ledley: “We’re in great shape going up to the Etihad. The way I feel right now is that I fancy us. I think we’ll feel better than they do ahead of the game but of course, we still have to put in a high level of performance on the day. Everything is there, everything is in place, the players are confident and I feel City will be a bit more worried than us going into the game and that’s not a bad position to be in! I remember going up there and feeling similar in 2012 (January, 2012) and we played well, but the game didn’t go our way and we ended up losing 3-2. As I said, you have to perform at the highest level.”

Below: Ledley's last words to the team before our famous win at City in 2010

The King is confident!

Ledley: “It was an outstanding performance against West Brom and we’re firing on all cylinders and all aspects of our game at the moment - defensively solid, bossing midfield and creating chances. When you are in form like that with someone like Harry Kane up top when you are creating those chances, you are in great shape. It’s true City have beaten us a few times in recent years - I certainly had good and not-so-good days up there – but we’re now in a place again where we can go there with great confidence of getting a result.”

Ledley looks back at 2010 - including highlights....