"But we must recognise when you win games playing badly it is always good, especially at this moment when all we need is three points and to keep winning games to secure the Champions League spot."
"Football sometimes is like that. Against Crystal Palace we played really well and we lost. This was not our best game and we won."
, Pablo Zabaleta 25 April 2015.
A crucial three points earned following an anxiety riddled performance from a City team now battling for a top four place; is how I would sum up the City v Villa game. Its a far cry from the hope on News Years Day 2015 having caught Chelsea to be joint top of the EPL, but Champions League qualification remains in our own hands.
Zabba’s comment above, and the Chelsea bore draw verses Arsenal 24 hours later begged the question; would City supporters have been happier living through a comparable two two seasons with Maureen, than they are having lived with Pellers’ two seasons with City?
I believe it an interesting comparison, as at the end of this season the results will have been the same, 1xEPL title and 1xLeague Cup. Man City’s silverware built on a season of swash buckling attacking football, breaking club and EPL records on goals scored whilst notching four or more goals on no less than ten occasions. Chelsea’s results built on game by game pragmatism and Maureen’s solid and functional 4-3-3. Arguably Chelsea do find themselves slightly better equipped for 2016 given their younger squad and a newly crowned Player of the Year in Hazard, however, Manchester City have again scored more Premier League goals (70 to Chelsea’s 65) this term.
Watching yesterday’s Chelsea vs Arsenal game on Sky was interesting in other ways. Michael Oliver refereed in his own inimitable style and using an EPL interpretation of the term “foul play” which has also become prevalent in the majority of Man City games. That is that “foul play” is almost impossible within confines of the penalty area. My own interpretation of the FIFA handbook would have awarded 0 v 2 penalties in favour of Chelsea, Mr Oliver saw no indiscretions.
Similarly City’s own game verses Villa would have been less of a frantic affair had either of the two valid penalty shouts been given, but as I’ve blogged before; this has been ubiquitous throughout the season with incidents now running into double figures. Neither Maureen’s combative complaints of an agenda against his team, nor Pellegrini ignoring the problem exists have made any difference. Refereeing continues to be poor, and at least in City’s case, bad decisions do not even out over the course of a season.
“Boring boring Chelsea? What's boring is 10 years without a league title”
, Jose Mourinho to press after the 0 v 0 result vs Arsenal 26 April 2015.
The media’s reaction to Chelsea’s indomitable, yet turgid, march to the title has been much more favourable than the reaction to City’s win last year, however my perception would be that City fans would still rather have some swash and buckle even if sometimes a little more pragmatism might be welcome.
