Focus turns to next term - Kidd World Soccer Shop

Manchester City assistant Brian Kidd says the time for celebrating a first title in 44 years is over and the focus must switch to next season.

Kidd (r): Knows City have got to be hungry

As Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at the start of his monopoly of the Barclays Premier League two decades ago, Kidd is acutely aware the glory that comes through winning even the biggest prizes is fleeting.

So, whilst Roy Hodgson might have felt it necessary to axe his England pre-Euro 2012 training camp in Spain partly due to the extended commitments of Roberto Mancini's men, Kidd is happy to begin looking forward.

For he knows once the action starts again in mid-August, the fact City's players have that gold badge on their sleeve that confirms their status as top dogs, everyone else will be out to remove it.

Speaking at the launch of the "I Put My Shirt On It" initiative in Manchester on Wednesday, Kidd said: "It is no good settling for (winning) the championship.

"You have got to be hungry, you have got to go on and you have got to want more.

"The fans enjoyed it but, on the Monday morning, we started again.

"It was the same at Liverpool all those years ago. They won it and that was it. They moved on."

Thankfully, Kidd got the impression inside the Blues dressing room, once the trophy presentation was over, that the desire required to extend this winning habit was there, even if he baulks at the thought what Manchester now has is a rivalry to match the famous 'El Clasico' in Madrid.

"You could see after they came off the pitch the players still had the hunger and desire," he said.

"But there is a long way to go before people can start talking about dynasties.

"Manchester City won the FA Cup. Now they have won the league. It is a good start.

"Hopefully we can build off that."

St Bede's College was the natural place for Kidd to launch an initiative that will raise money for various charities through the "I Put My Shirt On It Scheme", where fans can buy either England or Republic of Ireland themed shirts ahead of Euro 2012.

His daughter teaches at the school and two of his grandchildren are being educated there, emphasising his Mancunian roots.

However, it leaves him well-placed to detect an undercurrent of animosity he hopes does not build up into something even more distasteful as City and Manchester United scrap for honours.

"I don't want everything to turn bitter and unsavoury," said Kidd.

"For the derby, we got more viewers than El Clasico, which is fantastic for Manchester.

"One team had to win, which we hoped we did with some humility, the other had to lose.

"Let's take it for what it is. Two fantastic clubs and two great sets of fans the people of Manchester should be proud of."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17052/focus_turns_to_next_term___kidd