 |  | | |
| |||
FC Copenhagen in some of the coldest playing conditions I’ve ever experienced (Get my agent....I never signed up for minus 5 degrees!) It was the Danes first competitive game since a 6-week winter break and on a newly-laid pitch slowly being blanketed in snow, they looked lively with Ailton, Santeen and Kvist carrying a significant attacking threat.
Mark Hughes’ team selection after the Portsmouth defeat was always going to be interesting and the return of Micah Richards, Richard Dunne and SWP made a big difference to both City’s quality and application as they dominated the first half and deservedly led at the break through Nedum Onouha’s bizarre opener…his celebrations in front of the ‘painted fans’ behind the goal was brilliant!
‘Dogs Of War’ Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta combined excellently in central midfield and if SWP, Robinho and Craig Bellamy had taken one of their golden chances with the score at 2-1, the tie could have been put to bed there and then.
Ultimately two pieces of sloppy defending cost City the win but on the whole the Manager must have been much happier with his sides performance and taking two away goals back to Eastlands for next week’s exciting second leg will prove vital.
UEFA Cup aspirations are put on hold for a week as on Sunday the players must show real unity to face a daunting trip to Liverpool, a side who have done well to maintain their title challenge.
After seeing them win 3-2 at Eastlands back in October, I thought they were a long way off being capable of pushing Chelsea and United for top-spot and come kick-off on Sunday, they could be 8 points behind United and have to beat City to stand any chance of staying in the title-race.
Robbie Keane’s return to Spurs (what was all that about?) has left them short of fire-power and Rafa Benitez will be praying his dynamic duo of Gerrard and Torres, who have 23 goals between them, stay fit till the end of the campaign as without them their Premier League hopes will go up in smoke.
Anfield has been a fortress this season with no side taking all three points although City should be encouraged by the fact Hull,Stoke,Fulham and West Ham all gained a valuable point showing how far grit and determination can get you.
The big question is whether City have the stomach for the fight against a top-class side after capitulating so many times against far inferior opposition.
A Manager does his best but once out on the pitch, what more incentive does a professional footballer need than to play at one of the world’s great sporting venues and test himself against one the best teams in the land?
City’s seven remaining away league games are incredibly tough, having to face five of the top six so they will find it hard to change the shocking statistic of just one win in 12 attempts. Key-man SWP is suspended, so I’m highly doubtful if the final whistle at Anfield will signal a sudden change in fortunes…
Chinch predicts: Liverpool 2-0 City
TOTAL FOOTBALL on Key 103 and Magic 1152 Manchester brings you EVERY City game this season.
Join me next on SUNDAY 22ND FEBRUARY from 2 O’CLOCK, LIVE from ANFIELD as the Blues face title-chasing LIVERPOOL.
Then have YOUR say on my after-match phone-in by calling 0161-288-0103. TOTAL FOOTBALL…the place to be for EVERY City game this season.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น