Manchester City: Yet Another Victim Of ‘Mind Games’?

After the recent comments made by Patrick Vieira, ex-Arsenal star turned Manchester City executive, about ‘big clubs’ receiving a refereeing advantage two days after Fulham were denied a late penalty at Old Trafford questions arose, provoking a varied reaction of opinions from the media.

Vieira, the 35 year-old Senegal born Frenchman is a household football name in England as his unique career brought him twice to the Premiership: first to London from Milan, where he was a pivotal part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ title-winning season in 2003-04 and later to the North-West with Manchester City after playing in Serie A with Juventus and Internazionale.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the 1998 world cup winner claimed that “when United play at home they get some advantage that other teams don’t get”. Manchester City subsequently released a statement, expressing their concern that Vieira’s comments had been taken out of context. Additionally, Vieira himself tweeted that he was “not happy” with the BBC’s interpretation of the interview-he stated he was there to talk about ‘Football Against Hunger’.

The charity Vieira intended to promote is a campaign with the aim of raising awareness of hunger in the Sahel region of Africa.

However frustrated City and their Frenchman may be, those words still came from Vieira and have been inferred by the media to have been an attempt at the infamous ‘mind games’ that usually begin to take place in the final chapter of the season, more often than not between the managers of clubs challenging for the title-in other words, Sir Alex Ferguson and the man in charge of the other ‘big club’ who poses the largest threat.

What sets this situation apart nevertheless is the position Manchester City appear to be in, which is concerning and equally stressful for those at City as their lead at the top of the Premier League was recently relinquished to let their greatest rivals smugly overtake them.

To those keeping an eye of United’s filthy rich neighbours, it will seem that you are witnessing the collapse of this season’s authority; that 6-1 victory at Old Trafford seems a very long time ago for the Sky Blues.

Vieira’s intention may well have been to instil belief in his club (as he told the BBC that “this is our moment”), or anger United into a direct response as a Manchester Derby at the Etihad grows ever closer, with the ability to possibly decide the eventual Premier League winners.

And yet, the experienced yet clearly Naïve Vieira’s words may be in vain: City look incapable of dealing with the pressure-look at their recent 3-3 home draw with Sunderland for example. Going 3-1 down to a team sitting 9^th, arguing over who will take a free-kick, a far from committed reaction from Mancini after earning a point, an essential late comeback, fans leaving early and the act of ‘desperation’, Carlos Tevez, making another appearance. It was a concerning 90 minutes that Mancini called ‘crazy’, suggesting the title may have already be out of sight for City.

United have had their own problems this season; however The Citizens’ are far from timely. Mancini may well believe that the Red Devils will falter in the near future but opinions have seemingly become changed. City have a long way to go if they are to convincingly and professionally win a Premier League title. The “moment” that Vieira claimed was his clubs’ at this end of this current season may in fact be a long time in waiting.

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