De Jong backs Man City to beat Spurs

Nigel De Jong insists Manchester City will hold their nerve as they start the most crucial week of their season with a home game against Tottenham that could seal their place in the Champions League. City had the chance to effectively clinch fourth place at Everton on Saturday but slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park. However, Harry Redknapp's Spurs could only move to within six points of City after drawing 1-1 at home against Blackpool. With an FA Cup final to come against Stoke on Saturday, City had been keen to tie up their Champions League place to enable boss Roberto Mancini to rest players at Eastlands. But now they know that victory over Tottenham would seal their place in Europe's elite club competition and Netherlands midfielder De Jong expects City to go for broke despite the looming Cup final. "Nobody likes to lose a game, especially an unnecessary loss," De Jong said. "We just have to learn from this one and focus on the other games. It is a very important week for the club, for the fans and all the squad as well. It is do or die at the moment for Manchester City. "Fourth place is in reach. We just have to win the game and then the next game (after that) is going to mean everything as well - we have the chance to win the FA Cup after 35 years. "It is going to be a big week and we all have to be positive." Mancini is hopeful that captain Carlos Tevez, who has missed the last month with a hamstring problem, will be able to prove his fitness with a substitute appearance against Spurs ahead of the Cup final. But Tottenham will also be without a key player after Gareth Bale was stretchered off against Blackpool with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Redknapp has called for a sense of realism as Tottenham attempt to keep alive their slim hopes of a second straight season of Champions League football. Redknapp feels the competition at the top of the table has never been fiercer and he reckons he will need to bring in several new players in order to push for the top four again next year. "It's a tough ask. If people are realistic and understand football, they'll look at that top four and wonder who is going to drop out?" he said. "Manchester United? Don't think so, they?re in the Champions League final. Chelsea? Not a chance, too strong. "Arsenal? Every year they're in the Champions League and Man City have unbelievable resources and a fantastic squad. "They're getting stronger and stronger and they'll get stronger in the summer again, there's a championship in them for sure, and Liverpool are going to get better. "It really is very difficult to make that top four and that's why we've only done it once since the start of the Premier League. "We have to keep trying to improve in the summer, juggle around and get some quality into the team that will give us the chance to try again next year." Redknapp thinks his team have paid the price for a lack of killer instinct as they have struggled to stay in contention for the top four. His team, who were knocked out of the Champions League quarter finals by Real Madrid, have managed just one victory in their last eight Premier League matches ahead of the game at Eastlands. Redknapp added: "We've drawn too many games lately and we just haven't quite been able to kill teams off. "Whether we've just gone flat after the Champions League run, and we were so involved in that, it can take an awful lot out of you. "We give it a go in every game and you've got to keep going but it's going to be tough now."