"I change also the system as I was not happy in the way we were playing, so today I am happy with this result."
, Manuel Pellegrini 03 November 2015.
Forever the one for the understated press conference, even Manuel was beaming tonight, also sneaking in a dig about how if the game had gone differently then the press would be quizzing him on the omission of Kevin De Bruyne.
However it did work. In fact it didn't just work, it prompted arguably City's most accomplished performance in this competition. Yes even better than the defeats of Bayern or Roma. This performance had everything; power, pace, and composure in the first half, and solidity, shape and discipline in the second ... a perfect "European" away performance. Oh how long have we waited to be able to say that!
This was a team without Aguero and Silva, and as mentioned above there was no place for De Bruyne in the starting line-up. A brave decision to leave out arguably City's best player this season, but it worked. City lined up in a 4-3-3, Fernando pulled way back and Yaya and Fernandhino given licence to break up play higher up the pitch than usual. Sterling and Navas played out wide, but were instructed to put in a shift (two if necessary) to ensure the solidity of the midfield, and Bony was asked to hold up the play, when an out ball was needed. All of these players, indeed the whole team executed the game plan to a tee.
On first observation the line up looked more cautious, but it was anything but, breaking quickly with pace and incisive passing, time after time throughout the game, creating 22 chances in total. Fernandhino had already set up two chances when he measured a pass to Sterling for the youngster to slide the ball left footed past the oncoming Sevilla keeper Rico on 8'. Only three minutes later City scored again, this time provider becoming goal scorer, as Fernandhino refused to give up on the palmed shot from Bony and headed the rebound solidly into the back of the Sevilla net. 2-0 and City were in dream land. Sevilla had previously won their ten previous European fixtures at home, this was just not in the script.
Fair play to the home side they would not lie down, and started to create chances of their own, amongst City's breaks forward. Coke in particular caused Kolorov difficulty as Sevilla continually overlapped on the right, and it was the right back who broke into City's box and chipped a clever ball to the back post on 25' for Tremoulinas to pull one back.
As half time approached it might have been prudent for City to step off the gas, but this was a City team determined to press the advantage. Collecting the ball on 36', Joe Hart spotted Navas in space and passed the ball long. The Spanish winger controlled and started his run in one fluid movement, holding the ball just long enough for Fernandhino to support, before taking the return ball and punching a low cross to Bony at the edge of the six yard box, which Bony duly passed into the net to restore the two goal advantage.
After the break the frequency of City's attacks subsided, but not the ferocity and pace, and arguably City could have had five goals without further reply. Meantime the midfield three stifled and controlled the Sevilla attacks, minimising the danger on goal. When Sevilla did create half chances Kompany and Otomendi were imperious in holding the back line.
So 3-1 it finished and its difficult to see how the media can spin this to be anything but a step change for City performances in Europe. With Juventus taking the draw in Borussia this means City are the first English club to qualify for the last 16 of the competition (alongside Real Madrid). Qualifying from another group of death, with two games to spare and, hopefully, a shape and tactics which could push us on to win the group and gain a favourable draw ... this really was a night to remember.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
