Vieira confident move was right

Patrick Vieira insists he made the right decision in joining Manchester City.

Within days of Vieira making his first start for the Blues following a transfer window move from Inter Milan, the 33–year–old’s name was once again being mentioned at the highest level.

It is exactly what Vieira was looking for, given his stated aim when leaving Serie A was to play in South Africa this summer.

And even though Roberto Mancini’s team face an FA Cup fifth round replay at the Britannia Stadium on February 24 following a disappointing draw with Stoke, Vieira is convinced the Eastlands outfit are on the brink of big things.

“I am 100-per-cent sure I made the right move. I don’t have any doubt,” he said.

“I made the choice to come here because I strongly believe the quality of the football club and the quality of the players is there.”

Vieira’s name is been mentioned with an international recall at the same time as Wayne Bridge’s England future has become a hot topic for discussion.

Of more concern for Mancini is that, after two months out with a knee injury, Bridge’s fitness levels still need to improve. Apart from one pretty horrendous mis–control, Bridge turned in a decent display, starting brightly, then fading — like City as a whole.

Shaun Wright–Phillips profited from a woeful error by Ryan Shawcross to put City in front and seemingly on course for their third quarter–final appearance in five years.

But they failed to build on their first–half dominance, and when Rory Delap hurled a long throw to the edge of the City penalty area, Ricardo Fuller was scoring the equaliser as he came through a packed penalty area unmarked.

Vieira is likely to be back in Mancini’s starting line–up tomorrow, when City head to Stoke for a Premier League game


FA Cup draw

Chelsea v Man City or Stoke

Fulham v Bolton or Tottenham

Reading or West Brom v Crystal Palace or Aston Villa

Portsmouth v Birmingham

Ties to be played on the weekend of March 6 and 7.