Football: Dzeko puts prizes ahead of plaudits

Football: Dzeko puts prizes ahead of plaudits

LONDON - Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko insists his side's remarkable goal-spree will count for nothing if they finish the season without any silverware.

Dzeko scored City's landmark 100th goal of the season as Manuel Pellegrini's team took their tally for the current campaign to an incredible 103 with a 4-2 win over Cardiff at Eastlands on Saturday

The result kept second placed City within a point of leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, one of four competitions they remain in contention to win this season.

With their title challenge firmly on course, City can turn their attention to the formality of booking a place in the League Cup final against Manchester United or Sunderland.

After thrashing struggling West Ham 6-0 in the semi-final first leg, Tuesday's return at Upton Park is another opportunity for City to showcase their attacking talents to an increasingly captivated football world.

But Bosnia star Dzeko says seeing out the tie in business-like fashion is more important because City are focused on winning prizes rather than earning plaudits.

"It is definitely a great achievement but we want to win something. That will be much better than these 100 goals," Dzeko said.

"We still have a lot of games to play and we will score a lot more goals but we want to win something as well.

"We are still in all four competitions and we will see what will happen.

The key is just to try to win every next game.

"I am very happy that I am the one who scored the 100th goal.

"I am enjoying it at the moment. The team is playing amazing football.

"We are scoring a lot of goals. We just have to keep going like this."

City's blistering first leg display means Pellegrini can rest several of his key players if he wishes.

But, given City's impressive strength in depth, the Chilean is certain to be able to send out a strong line-up regardless of who he leaves out.

In contrast to City's buoyant mood, Sam Allardyce's Hammers head into the second leg at a low ebb after Saturday's 3-1 loss against Newcastle put them back in the relegation zone.

With the pressure mounting on Allardyce, the West Ham boss has been working all hours in a bid to bring in new signings, but he has so far been unsuccessful and on Sunday he ruled out a move for Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.

"I think under the circumstances at Arsenal, in the position that they're in, in the Champions League and cup matches, they've had to use him as soon as any of the two defenders have been injured," he said.

"So I don't think there's any chance we'll get somebody of his quality. It would be nice if we could.

"I've had targets and I haven't got one yet apart from Roger Johnson, so I'll keep going and hope we get some."

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