• Premier League

Wenger had no faith in me, says Gervinho

Gervinho says he quit Arsenal too soon © PA Photos

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Roma striker Gervinho has warned the pressure is on Manchester City ahead of their Champions League crunch clash - and taken a swipe at former manager Arsene Wenger.

Gervinho, who left Arsenal in 2013, claimed he is thriving under Roma coach Rudi Garcia after struggling to convince Wenger of his talent while at the Emirates Stadium.

"Wenger never had faith in me," he told The Sun. "Garcia does not differentiate between those who play and those who don't. For a player that's important.

"He doesn't speak more to you because you play and less with me because I don't. For him there aren't only 11 players. There are 25 players. Everyone has the same level, gets treated the same and gets spoken to in the same way.

"I don't have any stress. I am liberated from the pressure. That is how all of us will be against City. Garcia is closer to his players, he speaks to all of them and says the same things whether you're a starter or a sub.

"My passage from Arsenal was not a failure. I dreamed of playing for them, I loved them since I was a child. I don't detest Arsenal because of the way Wenger treated me.

"My frustration is I quit Arsenal too soon. I left a club I loved without really showing how good I was. I am happy I went there and was able to work with Wenger. I never thought I'd quit after just two seasons."

Gervinho said he hoped to guide Roma to victory against City and a place in the Champions League knockout phase in Wednesday's decisive showdown.

The 27-year-old got Roma's European campaign off to a flying start with two goals in their 5-1 win over CSKA Moscow, but that remains their only win in the group stage going into the final round of matches.

City have also only won once - 3-2 against the already-qualified Bayern Munich - leaving them level on points. Moscow are in Munich and could benefit from a draw in Rome by snatching second with victory over Bayern.

"City are obliged to win," Gervinho added. "They have all the pressure. Not Roma. City are in the same period that Chelsea used to be before they won it. It becomes complex until you win the trophy.

"The trophy their investors expect to win is the Champions League. Like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea. They are a bit more liberated now, Chelsea. City have a lot more pressure than us given the expense they have undertaken to create this team. It's the Champions League that they desperately want."

Despite Gervinho's words, qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League still means a lot to Roma - and Gervinho insists his side must look to beat City rather than settle for a point.

"It doesn't go through my head that we can go through with a 0-0. We must win," he said. "If we do beat City we go through, even if Moscow win."

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