“The last two seasons we were unlucky to play against Barcelona in the round of 16. We now arrive in the best eight teams in the competition for the first time and we will see how far we can go.”
, Manuel Pellegrini - 15/03/2016
Goals; None
Line Up (4-2-3-1);Hart, Clichy, Otamendi (Demichelis 24', Kompany (Mangala 7'), Zabaleta, Fernando, Yaya, Fernandihno, Navas, Silva (Sterling 79'), Aguero
StatsPossession, 46%/54%; Shots, 7(1)/6(4); Fouls, 11/12
Line Up (4-2-3-1);Hart, Clichy, Otamendi (Demichelis 24', Kompany (Mangala 7'), Zabaleta, Fernando, Yaya, Fernandihno, Navas, Silva (Sterling 79'), Aguero
StatsPossession, 46%/54%; Shots, 7(1)/6(4); Fouls, 11/12
After what seemed to be pretty miserable hangover since City’s Capital One Cup triumph at Wembley, the blues needed to finish the job against Kiev at the Etihad, and get in the pot for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in the clubs history.
The starting line-up saw a welcomed return to the linchpin of City’s midfield, Yaya Toure, who took up his favoured role at the spearhead in a three man midfield with the 'Ferna' twins providing cover.
As it happened, the game was more about what happened in the first 10 minutes to Vincent Kompany, rather than what happened in front of goal. The Captain’s injury plagued season once again taking a downward turn as he pulled up with what seemed to be another calf injury. His face painted a picture worth a thousand blog posts, and his cameo appearance kind of summed up City’s recent form; so much promise, yet disappointment, as he was replaced by Mangala. This feeling was further reinforced with Otamendi also having to make way for Demichelis after suffering a dead leg on 15’. Exactly the opposite of what City needed before the Derby at the weekend.
This is where I would usually delve into the highlights and low-lights of the match, but I think we all have our opinion on the performance, and while Robbie Savage labelled it ‘The worst match I have ever seen’, I have other, slightly more optimistic (and hopefully enlightened) views on the 90 minutes and its implications.
Was it the attacking, fluid, sumptuous football we have become greedy of viewing week after week? No, however, it was a professional performance in a game where we did not need to take any risks. The incentive should have been entirely on the Ukrainians to throw everything at City's improvised defensive partnership, which they did not. If City did attempt to hurt Kiev and go at them full throttle (as the neutral viewer may have been longing for), but ended up being left exposed and conceding, City would yet again be labelled naïve in Europe. Any risk of exerting unnecessary effort leaving City less than fresh for the season defining derby at Eastlands in four days’ time, was therefore avoided, whilst playing safe by having a full strength line-up.
Instead, a method Mourinho, Simeone et al., have implemented to great success in this competition in previous years; professional and efficient, low-risk and high reward, was employed. Though a special mention needs to be made for big Yaya Toure, who was back to his dominating self, and last night made it abundantly clear to all his colleagues, that a slip up was not to be contemplated. Especially it seemed, to big Joe Hart, who responded by pulling off a couple of worldies late in the game.
I’ve always been a Pellegrini supporter, and while I completely agree with others' views that this season should have been miles better than it has been, Pellegrini has yet again showed his tactical nous in the Champions League. One thing he does not get enough credit for, however, is how City have orchestrated themselves among Europe’s ‘elite’ this season. His game management and dynamism reaping rewards in a group stage that every pundit had labelled another group of death for City, and in the end coming out on top for the group for the first time. He has then decided to hit Kiev early in Ukraine, and getting the tie over with. This allowed the coasting performance last night, thus getting City through to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history. Have we moved forward under Pellegrini? Undoubtedly. .
As for the future in the ECL; Wolfsburg, Atletico, Juventus, and even Real Madrid are all pretty evenly matched ties that City should be looking to edge, especially with the return of De Bruyne, Nasri and Delph on the horizon. Then with a bit of luck, who knows what could happen. Capital One Cup trophy in the cabinet, Quarter Finals of the Champions league and beyond still on the cards. Pellegrini may have taken us as far as possible, but in a season over-run by injury and complacency, we are still in the running for Milan come May. Let’s stop longing for the summer with Pep and start believing that we can continue to make history right now, because this team are capable, and with Yaya and Sergio in the mix, the sky (and perhaps Barca and Bayern) is still the only limit.
@patrickelano
