In recent successful seasons for MCFC there have been signature games where the fans have seen things not associated with “typical city”. Indeed many of these traits had been so isolated in their appearances at Maine Road since the early ‘70s that many of the faithful refused to be swayed by these false gods. Not really believing the flowing, cutting, powerful football which destroyed United 6-1 in 2011, or the bright footwork, mesmerising runs, and clinical finishing making a 6-3 mockery of Wenger’s Arsenal in 2013, to be anything other than a flash in the pan. Until the silverware was in the bag, something bad had to be around the corner.
City’s destruction of Mourinho’s indefatigable Chelsea side could be one of those signature games; something good could be about to happen. Mourinho’s ridiculous post match defence that 3-0 was not a fair reflection on the game was of course a nonsense. Chelsea could and perhaps should have been at least 3-0 down by half time. Silva was electrifying, Yaya and Fernandinho unflagging, and Aguero relentless in his pursuit of the goal which eventually came on 32 minutes; having exchanged passes with Yaya, swerving three markers, and placing a precise shot inside the far post. City were so dominant in fact as to force the substitution, at half time, of stalwart John Terry for a more agile replacement in Kurt Zouma; the only time Mourinho has substituted Terry in 177 games.
After the break Chelsea did look more solid, but this was more down to the number of bookings picked up by City’s central midfield pairing, and an insistence of Chelsea players to go to ground at any opportunity to gain a set piece advantage. Not exactly the tactics of Champions.
Even with this better Chelsea showing, it still looked to be City to be the side more likely to add to the goal tally. Indeed, such was City’s dominance, it wasn’t until the 70th minute that Chelsea managed to register a shot on target. City kept the momentum and again grabbed the initiative in the 79th minute, with Kompany proving his strength over Ivanovic to head in from a Silva corner; his second in 7 days. By the time Fernandinho slotted home his pile driver of a shot on 84 minutes to make it 3-0 (this time it being hard man Silva "out muscling" Ivanovic), no one but the spin doctors in Jose’s mind saw anything other than a deserved and convincing destruction of last year’s Champions.
Only time will tell if this is indeed one of those signature games which augers a much better season to come for the Citizen’s, but I for one am willing to #believe.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
Etihad Stadium Manchester
