The legendary, 107-times capped French midfielder, who has stated that City will be his final club in a glittering career spanning 17 years, is currently putting himself through yet another tough pre-season with one simple goal – to make as many first team appearances as possible for Roberto Mancini’s side.
Vieira knows all about the manager’s pre-season preparations having twice gone through the process whilst at Inter Milan.
“Not much has changed, it is hard work twice every day and he is demanding a lot but we started really well at Inter and that is what we are hoping for at City this season,” he revealed.
We know hard it will be the first few games and we have to work hard if we want to start well...so far so good.
...Patrick Vieira
Vieira faces competition from World Cup finalist Nigel de Jong, England’s Gareth Barry and new signing from Barcelona Yaya Toure for a berth in the Blues engine room but he is not fazed by the battle nor is he willing to concede that he will not be first choice.
“No one will accept being on the bench from the start of a game. If you find such a player he will not be a big player or have a big career,” he asserted during a break between training sessions at the pre-season training camp in Portland, Oregon.
“I will fight every day in every training session to show to the manager that I want to play and after that he will make the choice. I have to make it really hard for him to make a choice.
“It is crowded in that that midfield area but that is really exciting for the club. We have top class players and that shows where we want to go. Our target is to qualify for the Champions League and maybe with the Premier League – you never know.”
