Joleon Lescott: Manchester City can win the Premier League after massive season

Joleon Lescott, Manchester City (Getty Images)

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Joleon Lescott believes Manchester City can win the Premier League title next season and insists the Blues will now be feared when sides come up against them.

The former Wolves and Everton man played every minute of City’s last dozen Premier League games as the club edged Arsenal into third spot and lifted the FA Cup – achievements which Lescott believes will drive them on to bigger things next term.

He told The Mirror: “We will believe we can win the title. We will take confidence from this season. We are playing some good stuff and teams will have to be more fearful when they play us.

“This season was massive. Our objective was to finish fourth and as it got closer to Christmas we were still in the title race. That wasn’t to be, but we had a good run to the Cup semi-finals, beat Manchester United, and the final speaks for itself.”

City finished the campaign in fine form with eight wins from their last 10 outings and while there now exists a level of expectation at the club which could call for new signings, Lescott is more than willing to scrap for his defensive berth.

He continued: “I want to win every game. It was the same at Everton, but it’s a bit different here as our goals have changed. No disrespect to Everton, but we were never expected to win the league there.

“At City, we are expected to win. Next August we will go into the season with the same focus.
“Obviously, to progress, the club will need to buy players, and if that means them buying a centre-half so be it. I will have to fight for my position.

“I was confident last season that given a chance I could play, even though I did not start the season.

“I started off quite slowly and had to be patient, but I got in and we achieved our goals.

“You like to think you’ve become a better player. You have to progress each season and I like to think I am a better player than a year ago, but I cannot put my finger on a reason why.”

The new season will provide Lescott with his first opportunity to compete in the full stages of the Champions League and he hopes performing in the competition will open the same international doors as it did for Tottenham’s Michael Dawson.

He added: “Michael Dawson played in it this season. When John Terry got injured he was in there, so if I play in the Champions League next season, hopefully I will get the same opportunities.”