EPL: Man City days away from title
Manuel Pellegrini's men are now firm
favourites to win a second league title
in three seasons after they returned to
the summit following a tense 3-2 win
over Everton
COMMENT
By Paul Macdonald at Goodison Park
Winning ugly has had its reputation sullied
by baiters of Jose Mourinho in recent weeks,
but in order to be champions, it’s almost
always a necessity. Manchester United have
long been the master of it and at Goodison
Park on Saturday Manchester City left
flowing football at home to grind out a
hugely significant, potentially title-defining
victory.
Liverpool have been branded as the neutral’s
Premier League choice in recent weeks for
the manner in which Brendan Rodgers’ side
have dismantled teams, but let’s not forget
that City were tearing teams apart long
before Liverpool were. Arsenal, Manchester
United, Liverpool and countless others were
humbled when Manuel Pellegrini’s side were
at their free-flowing, formidable best, but
playing away at Everton, a place where they
have won just once in the league since 1992,
didn’t require that kind of performance.
Sometimes being asked to throw bodies in
front of shots, defend in your own penalty
area and generally endure agony is a
necessary evil to get the job done, and City
most definitely endured that. And emerged
unscathed.
When it has really mattered, City have been
able to win. They’ve been able to see out
matches that have impeded their rivals. They
can win with grace and with grit. For the
most part, their 3-2 victory over Everton was
achieved with the latter, but that’s what title
run-ins are all about. And that’s why, should
they see out their remaining two games, City
will be worthy champions.
Pep Guardiola and Mourinho are well aware
that opinions on football change with such
regularity that it’s difficult to keep up.
Pellegrini will also remember the praise
lavished upon his side as Yaya Toure, Sergio
Aguero and David Silva tore teams to shreds.
The Chilean has had to endure criticism
since but it’s to the credit of this team that
they have remained level-headed and
consistent (Sunderland aside) in one of the
most unconventional title run-ins in Premier
League history.
Everton, for all the conspiracies about easing
off to allow City victory given the unthinkable
alternative of a Liverpool title win, gave
Roberto Martinez everything they had. Ross
Barkley, fantastic once again, proved to be a
relentless nuisance, and it’s somewhat
disappointing that his effortless, unerring
curling shot into Joe Hart’s top corner in the
opening 10 minutes ultimately meant
nothing.
Barkley and his team had City concerned, but
Roberto Martinez’s decision to set up with
3-5-2 from the outset, a back three of John
Stones, Phil Jagielka (making his first
appearance since February) and Antonin
Alcaraz allowed Pellegrini’s attacking unit a
generous amount of space in key areas.
Aguero greedily exploited this to bring City
level, and then it was left to Edin Dzeko to
give his team something to defend.
The Bosnian carries a disinterested
demeanour at times, but his clinical finishing
is as important at this stage of the season to
a pretty Samir Nasri pass or a powerful Toure
run. His winning goal, a tap-in from six
yards. It was a victory that characterises
Premier League winners–in-waiting.
City have two home fixtures remaining,
against Aston Villa and West Ham. Pellegrini
couldn’t have wished for a more
straightforward way to edge over the
finishing line. And when the dust settles and
the season is taken in context, it’ll be
afternoons such as today, where a dreadful
record and an enterprising, dangerous home
side stood against them, that City’s players
and fans will look to. Days the title could be
won and lost. And the victory was theirs.
Comments
Post a Comment