Dion Dublin has warned Manchester City that Newcastle United ‘won’t fear’ them on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s men try to recover from midweek Champions League heartbreak. City were seconds away from securing their place in the final before two injury-time goals from Rodrygo and a Karim Benzema penalty in extra-time dumped them out at the expense of Real Madrid.
They now have to recover both physically and mentally, with four crucial games ahead in the Premier League title race. Guardiola’s men are top as it stands, but they are just a point ahead of Liverpool with neither side looking like slipping up anytime soon.
But former player-turned-pundit Dion Dublin has fired a warning to City ahead of Sunday’s hosting of Newcastle who, despite having nothing but pride to play for, will have no fear at the Etihad.
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“The only way to get over a disappointment that big is obviously to win the next game - they play Newcastle at home which is going to be a difficult game.” Dublin told the BBC Football Daily Podcast.
“Newcastle will go at them. I believe that Newcastle won’t fear them - there will be a lot of respect for them - but when Newcastle have the ball they will want to play quickly.
"City will have their work cut out but in order to forget the game midweek they have to beat Newcastle, that’s the only way they can forget about that loss. Win the next game, the last game is irrelevant”
Guardiola and his players were clearly devastated in Madrid on Wednesday, having come so close to consecutive Champions League finals before crumbling in a scarcely believable two-minute spell. The defeat has only strengthened the train of thought that City, despite their domestic dominance, do not have the nous to succeed in Europe.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager admitted in the week that he had not seen or spoken to his players since the defeat and planned to do so for the first time on Saturday. How fast they can recover will determine the outcome of the title race.
Newcastle, meanwhile, put in a brilliant performance at home to Liverpool last weekend despite falling to a Naby Keita goal in the 19th-minute. Eddie Howe’s men will be confident of another strong and energetic performance against a potentially deflated City side on Sunday.
