Adam Johnson rues disappointing season for Manchester City

Last updated : 03 May 2011 By Daily Mail

Johnson has the FA Cup final against Stoke to look forward to and is heading towards a top-four finish in the Premier League but the winger can't help feeling disappointed with?Manchester City's season.

'I think we are good enough to have challenged for the title, and personally, I think we should be up there now with the squad we have - I'm disappointed we're not,' he said.

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'I think we always had that belief. A lot is made about us not being a close group and all this sort of stuff, but I've not been in a better dressing room for banter and the lads knitting as one.

'I think a lot of people think maybe we ought to have been challenging, but there was a couple of iffy results which we should have won. Things could have been different but it's been a learning process for us.

'Hopefully it will be different next season and we will know what it's about not. I'm disappointed, but it wasn't to be and I think we will learn from that, push on next season and be right in the mix.'

City beat fierce rivals Manchester United to set up their return to Wembley and Johnson reckons the result can provide a springboard for continued success.

He added: 'Lots been made of our squad not being together, but for us in the dressing room we've always had a belief in ourselves, and I think you could say it's made us even stronger now, the way the results have gone.

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'Maybe the win over United was a turning point, by giving us a little bit more belief. But I think we had the belief we would do it anyway. It was just about going on the pitch and doing it.

'I don't think it's made a major difference around the club. After looking back, hopefully there will be a lot of other big things in years to come. I think it's up to us now. That game has gone. Hopefully we are going to make history and push on to next season and win even more trophies.'

City are in the final Champions League place, seven points better off than closest challengers Liverpool with a game in hand.

And 23-year-old England winger Johnson is relishing a crack at Europe's big boys.

He said: 'It's the biggest club competition in the world - playing against the best teams in the world in massive stadiums. That's what you dream about when you're growing up as a kid, playing in massive arenas in massive games.

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'I used to watch Newcastle in the Champions League, I remember Barcelona and those nights - Tino Asprilla and people like that. Those were the nights when I was growing up as a kid. Obviously, night matches were a bit special for me.

'I can't remember if I was allowed to stay up actually! I think I was or maybe I was just in the bedroom with my door locked. I remember the 3-2 game, (Keith) Gillespie set a few up with crosses. It was a game that stuck in my memory in the Champions League.

'As an Englishman growing up, watching English clubs in the Champions League was massive. Those were special nights.

'It was more (David) Ginola for me though. I looked to him and Ryan Giggs. But that night he stood out as winger.

'It was more just about Newcastle that night. There was something about that night - the goals that went in and Asprilla scoring a hat trick. It was one of those nights wasn't it? I hope we can have a few of those.'

Oh what a night: Faustino Asprilla (left) scored a hat-trick for Newcastle against Barcelona in 1997

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail