“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Those are the famous words of Charles Dickens, one of history’s greatest writers, in one of his most respected books A Tale of Two Cities. Whilst they have been adapted many thousands of times to describe numerous scenarios, they can almost certainly be used to describe Manchester City in 2013, a year of two halves for the Premier League side.
Under Italian man Roberto Mancini for the first few months of the year, a man who brought success to the Etihad Stadium for the first time in decades, it was mixed, and certainly not good for supporters of the Blues. A shock FA Cup Final loss against Wigan Athletic typified what was a disappointing end to the Italian era in Manchester after three-and-a-half years of mostly success.
In stark contrast, when Manuel Pellegrini became the manager of City a few weeks after the unceremonious sacking of the afore-mentioned Mancini, fortunes started to turn around. Some very good transfers made for an improved team in sky blue, and -particularly at home – the Blues have been ruthless in their pursuit of a first trophy under the Chilean former Vilarreal boss.
The 2012-13 season as a whole was a disappointing for the Manchester side. Not only were there early exits from the Champions League and the Capital One Cup, but a number of league setbacks and the brilliance of Robin van Persie seemingly put the Premier League out of sight too. This left just the FA Cup to compete for, and it certainly looked like the Citizens would triumph in that competition. Victories against Watford, Stoke, Leeds, Barnsley and then Chelsea in the Wembley semi-final set Mancini’s side up against fellow Northerners, Wigan Athletic, for most important game of the campaign.
We’ve all seen the picture of Ben Watson heading the ball at the front post over the stretching Joe Hart in injury time to gift the cup to The Latics. I remember that game vividly, and the shock that went with it. Everyone expected City to cruise to victory against their relegation-threatened opponents, but instead of the Manchester City we’ve come to know over the last few years, ‘Typical City’ turned up on that fateful day in May and the rest is, as they say, history.
It is fair to say Manuel Pellegrini hasn’t had a career laden with trophies anywhere he’s gone – especially in Spain. However, he certainly has pedigree, given the fact he is ex-Real Madrid and nearly reached the Champions League Final with Vilarreal during his time in La Liga. As such, Manchester City fans didn’t really know what to expect when the 60-year-old became the club’s first Chilean manager back in June. Since then he has become popular in the stands despite a rocky start, and looks likely to end his trophy drought sooner rather than later.
The Blues’ away form is the only real downside to the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign under Pellegrini. Four losses in ten away games have put a dampener on the performance in the first half of the season, but form is now picking up and looks to be no problem at all in the chase for the title.
Attacking football has typified the Manchester City side over the last few years, and that is no different in 2013. Of the two managers to take charge at the Manchester side in this calendar year, it is easy to see that the latter pulls it off better than the former. Whereas Mancini’s was more based on possession and breaking the opposition down, under Manuel Pellegrini there has been more counter-attacking football involved in a 4-4-2 system. However, possession is still a huge part of the play.
Goals galore has been the theme so far under the newest manager at the Etihad Stadium. In 19 league games, the Blues have scored 54 goals, and have been incredibly impressive in drubbings of both North London sides, Manchester United along with more impressive wins. 82 goals have been scored in all competitions, showing the improvement from the side that played for several years under Roberto Mancini.
The transfers that City made in the summer have also been very impressive, especially for the price paid. Total outlay passed the £100 million mark once again, but value has certainly been achieved, and from players who perhaps you wouldn’t expect. Fernandinho and Álvaro Negredo have been particularly impressive, but so have Jesús Navas and Martin Demichelis (if only occasionally). We’re yet to see much of Jovetić in a blue shirt due to injury, but he also looks likely to have a bright future in England too.
As much as I like quoting famous authors to describe footballing situations, I don’t think we’ll be in the same situation this time next year with Manchester City. This is a side very much on the up again after progress was stagnated in the final year under the Mancini regime. Pellegrini is a better manager all-round, especially in the man-management department, and with his experience it won’t be long before we see the Manchester side lifting a trophy aloft once again.
