As expected, yesterday’s game between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge was a closely contested affair. Two well marshalled, well organised (if slightly too defensive-minded) teams battling it out to assert themselves meaningfully amongst the top four and perhaps give the top two reason to watch their backs – the game had ‘draw’ written all over it. That’s how it looked as though it would end up, until defender David Luiz headed home off the end of Didier Drogba’s free-kick in the 78th minute. The Brazilian was, let’s face it, excellent all night and is beginning to look like the best signing made in the January transfer window.
Ramires grabbed Chelsea’s second in extra time, leaving Roberto Mancini to reflect on where his team had gone wrong. City may remain in the top-four, but Tottenham are now just four points behind them with a game in hand.
Manchester City as a unit have struggled against the big teams this season. Prior to last night’s late collapse against Chelsea, Mancini has overseen his side lose to United (2-1, 12th February) draw with United (0-0 10th, November) draw with Arsenal (0-0, 5th January – Arsenal dominated, City showed little endeavour) get turned over by Arsenal (0-3, October 24th) and beat Chelsea (1-0 – 25th September).
One win in six against the current top three. That is not Premier-League winning material. Even more disappointing is the attitude that Mancini’s side shows against the big teams. When City scrap it out with the established sides, the Premier League ‘elite’ if you like, you can’t help but feel that their performances are inhibited, like they are playing well within themselves, like they are afraid to have a real go.
This is obviously a real weakness within the side that needs to be addressed. How can City ensure that they get the results they desperately need against the big teams? It’s not good enough to simply skirt over the issue and hope that it fixes itself. Which brings me to Mancini’s post-game comments from yesterday:
“We played poorly in the last 20-25 minutes, we were so tired, but we were ready to make changes when we conceded a goal.”
That can’t be what the fans want to hear. City have one of the best squads in the Premier League, both in terms of pure quality and size. If your side has aspirations of being a major force in the League and abroad, you have to expect your side to be able to play twice in four days from time to time. Let’s not forget either that Chelsea also had a game midweek.
Doesn’t it make more sense to look inwards upon decisions that were made and the way that the manager set-up his team? Arsenal showed earlier this season (with a 3-0 win) that if you go after this Chelsea side, they will make mistakes and they will grant you a number of chances. I know that Mancini’s Manchester City is a whole different animal from Wenger’s Arsenal, but it would have been nice to see from City even a fraction of the attacking endeavour that the Gunners produced.
As things ended up it feels like an opportunity spurned for City – another excuse for pundits and fans to decry Mancini’s tactics as much too ‘negative’. City fans must be hoping that the Italian doesn’t use the same formation and tactics against United in the semi-final of the FA Cup. For City and Roberto Mancini, the excuses are running rather thin.
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Some of this maybe right but most is turned, forgetting to add that city played arsenal with 10 men and that being the only reason we got beat 3 0 enough said
Fair point citytillidie but that doesn’t excuse the 0-0 that City had with Arsenal. Only one team tried to win that game.
There are teams with well organised defences, and then there is City, probably the most unambitious team I have ever seen. The teams at the bottom wouldn’t be that negative.
City’s problem is that because of their current status of inferiority is that a draw in a big game is still a good result for them, unlike Spurs who seem to play with a degree of freedom and like to go at people.
I cannot stand Spurs, but City boring their way through the Champions League does not bear thinking about. For the good of the Premier League, City cannot finish in the top four.