Man City's Barry: Tottenham clash decisive in title battle

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry admits their clash with Tottenham will be decisive in the title race.

Former Aston Villa star Barry believes the game against the side from North London could prove crucial in the championship chase.

"There's big pressure on us now," the 30-year-old told the Daily Mirror. "It's a vital part of the season. There are still a lot of games left, but this period now, after a little sticky patch, is important.

"The game coming up against Spurs is a huge one in the title race. The lads aren't thinking about the money the club has spent at all - they're thinking about winning the league.

"That's the pressure - trying to win the title. Managers can see when pressure is affecting players, and that's where they must make their decisions. Pressure can affect some players more than others.

"We're going into games now, knowing they're all big and that there's so much at stake.

"Earlier in the season the players were playing a lot more freely. But at this stage it's all about getting three points and sometimes the football may not be as pretty."