De Jong wants a trophy

Midfielder Nigel de Jong claims Manchester City must win a trophy to consider the season a success — and there can be no excuses for failure.

City have led the Barclays Premier League for much of the season but were knocked off the top by Manchester United after defeat at Swansea on Sunday.

And De Jong admits that to miss out on the title now — or even finish the season empty–handed — would be a major blow.

City's only other prospect of silverware is in the Europa League but they must overturn a 1–0 deficit as they meet Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their last–16 tie at the Etihad Stadium tonight.

De Jong said: "We always said at the beginning of the season we wanted to compete to win as many competitions as we can.

"We have come so far and we have just got to fight and concentrate until the end.

"Our main goal is the Premier League, that doesn't change, but we're still in the Europa League and the only way we can succeed this season is to win one of the prizes.

"After we won the FA Cup, everybody was hungry for more. We brought players in to make the squad bigger and stronger."