Abu Dhabi trip will have helped recharge batteries

Les Chapman.

THERE'S nothing like grabbing a few days away in the middle of a tough season to help recharge the batteries.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola took advantage of the club's free weekend to take the lads away to Abu Dhabi during the hours following the epic Champions League victory against Monaco.

The players are back now, but mini-breaks like that in mid-season are great for team spirit and resting up potentially weary bodies.

Now, more intense hard work will have been put in ahead of tomorrow's crucial FA Cup replay against Huddersfield.

The drawn result in the first game in Yorkshire will have given my old club Huddersfield a boost in confidence, but many of their players won't have experienced playing a top City team at the Etihad Stadium with a Cup quarter-final place at stake.

Of course City will be strong favourites to progress now, and rightly so.

They have looked back to their best in recent weeks and Mr Guardiola will leave nothing to chance in this game.

Having said that, neither will City take Huddersfield for granted.

They are clearly a good side and are right in the shake-up for promotion to the Premier League.

It's a big game with a chance to travel to Middlesbrough in the last eight up for grabs - that's another very winnable tie for City if they can get through.

Focus then switches back to the ongoing pursuit of Chelsea on Sunday when the Blues travel to Sunderland.

With the gap that's opening up at the top now, it really is vital that City win every game from here on in.

Certainly Sunderland are in there with the teams you must be beating if you've got designs on winning the Premier League title.

Chelsea keep winning and winning despite not always playing brilliantly well - that is often the sign of championship winners.