Dzeko refuses to give up

Dzeko refuses to give up

Edin Dzeko: Not giving up on the title race despite more dropped points

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is refusing to concede defeat in the Premier League title race.

Manchester United have the chance to stretch their lead at the top of the table to five points when they face Blackburn on Monday night, live on Sky Sports 1HD after City dropped two points in the draw with Sunderland over the weekend.

Bosnian accepts City were not at their best against Sunderland as two late goals rescued a point, but Dzeko is expecting more twists and turns before the end of the season.

"There are seven games to play, and the way we dropped points, United can drop points as well, so everything is still open."
Edin DzekoQuotes of the week

"There are seven games to play, and the way we dropped points, United can drop points as well, so everything is still open," insisted Dzeko.

"We need to go from game to game and try to win every match.

"The next is Arsenal. We will play to win and then we will see.

"They are fighting for a Champions League place and are a top team, so it won't be easy. It should be a good, open game.

"Maybe we thought Saturday was going to be easy. We had won all our home games so maybe we thought we could count on all three points - but it's not like that, and you have to fight for every point."

Dzeko is hopeful United could slip up at Blackburn with Steve Kean's men fighting for survival.

"It is an important game for Blackburn as well so everything is possible.

"We lost points on Saturday, and they could drop them at Blackburn or somewhere else."

Dive denial

Dzeko was at the centre of controversy on Saturday over the penalty which led to City's first equaliser.

Sunderland's players complained Dzeko had dived to win the spot-kick but the City forward was insistent he had been fouled by Craig Gardner and that he did not dive.

"It was a penalty - I still have pain in my leg," said Dzeko, who became involved in an argument with Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley over the matter after a later stoppage in play.

On that, Dzeko said: "One guy pushed me away and said, 'Why are you cheating?'

"So I asked him what he was talking about and said it was a penalty. That's why I was angry.

"He said I was cheating. He can say what he wants, but should never touch me.

"Mario Balotelli told me to stay calm, but I was calm - they can't push me and touch me that way."