Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno has received messages of encouragement from his former Arsenal colleagues who hope he can play a blinder against Manchester City today.
Leno starts for Fulham at Craven Cottage in the lunchtime kick-off with City starting the day a point behind Arsenal with a game in hand. The Gunners go to Manchester United tomorrow.
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German Leno spent four years at the Emirates and his former team-mates are eager to see him repel Pep Guardiola’s men this afternoon.
He told TNT Sports: “I have received a lot of messages from the Arsenal boys and they are saying ‘to make City drop some points’, but we obviously want to win and finish on a high – that is why we have prepared for the game.”
Fulham are 13th in the table and have little riding on the outcome. But Leno is adamant the Cottagers will try to make it “as hard as possible” for City.
“Make City drop some points.” 📲
Bernd Leno shares the messages he’s recieved from Arsenal fans ahead of Fulham’s game agains Man City 👀
🎙️ @julesbreach @petercrouch pic.twitter.com/zqMTGGxiSK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2024
He added: “It makes a big difference when you’re under big pressure like being in a relegation battle.
“Of course, it is a big game for Arsenal as well, but we want to make it as hard a possible.
“We made it very hard for City this year [at the Etihad] and we have beaten Tottenham and Arsenal [at Craven Cottage this year] – we need a perfect day or it will be difficult for us.”