Rio Ferdinand says Pep Guardiola will not even have to write a team talk before Manchester City lock horns with Newcastle on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm). Yet to kick a ball this weekend, Guardiola and his men have already saw their Premier League title aspirations boosted when Liverpool were held by Tottenham on Saturday afternoon.
That came after contrasting European fortunes for the two domestic contenders, as Liverpool booked a spot in the Champions League showpiece and City saw their dreams ended courtesy of a dramatic late collapse against semi-final opponents Real Madrid. Stunned by that comeback, City have been left to pick up the pieces, but Ferdinand is adamant Guardiola and his players are back in pole position domestically.
City can move three points clear with victory over the Magpies, with three matches each still to play.
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Speaking on the latest episode of his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand said: "I was at the Liverpool game and Spurs should have won that game. Advantage to City now and they don't even need a team talk."
Ferdinand added: "More than anything this would have helped City mentally. Liverpool had won, they are through and they were elated. City were really low and they were down after midweek and rightly so, that's the way that it is after games like that.
"It takes so much out of you in extra-time and the way in which they lost. Devastating.
"But now I don't think Pep Guardiola even needs to do a team talk. They have got what they wanted and they got the incentive for them to go and make a bit more of a gap by winning against Newcastle. I think it is a great chance for them now.
"He will freshen it up and bring news faces in. It will be good for them because the players that come in won't be as mentally scarred as the ones that were out there. I still think there will be twist or two before the season ends."
