The City keeper who will tomorrow night be seeking World Cup qualification in Paris with the Republic of Ireland has revealed that he is loving life in Manchester after nearly a year at the club.
Given joined from Newcastle in the January transfer window last year and has been a fixture in the side ever since.
After spending so long in the North-East there were those who wondered if he would settle but they need not have worried.
“I’d love to finish my career here,” he declared. “I haven’t been here long, but I already feel at home and love the club.
“I grew up a Celtic supporter and they have a big place in my heart, but I really hope I can finish my career here. You can never say never, but I’d like to think I will.
It’s a great period to be at City. There’s such excitement in the dressing room. There’s a real feeling of optimism and we believe we’re going places. It’s been a great adventure for me and I couldn’t be happier.
...Shay Given
“We’d like to win something. If it doesn’t happen this season, it’ll happen next. But hopefully we’ll be able to do it (this campaign). We’re in the Carling Cup quarter-finals, we’ve got the FA Cup to come and we’re up near the top of the league.
“If we win our game in hand we’ll only be a couple of points behind United. We need to keep going and winning away games, which will be crucial.
“We have a fantastic team and a strong squad, but it will be tough because there are some great sides in this league.
“Manchester United and Chelsea will be the teams to beat. They also have experience of challenging for the title - they’ve both been there and done it. But we believe in ourselves. It’s a long winter and a long, hard season - there’ll be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.”
As for the future Given believes all the pieces are slotting into place to make the Blues one of the best sides not just in Britain but on the continent.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I hope we can be one of the best sides in Europe.
...Shay Given
“It will be difficult but we have fantastic owners, passionate supporters and a number of excellent players. We’ve got a lot of potential but we’ve got to keep working hard.”
And Given is well aware of the great tradition of goalkeepers at the club and the mantle that he has assumed as the number one choice.
“City are a great club with a great history. It’s true they’ve had some excellent keepers, so it’s really special to be following in their footsteps. It’s a hard act to follow but it’s certainly an honour,” he concluded.
