City left to rue despite derby win
Source: Agencies |
April 10, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN the euphoria subsides, pangs of regret will remain for Manchester City.
The gloating began in earnest yesterday in English football's capital city after City gave a performance of a champion in a 2-1 win at Manchester United, sealed by Sergio Aguero's late wonder-goal.
However, United needs only to point at the English Premier League table as a response to its rival's taunts.
The inescapable fact is that City is 12 points behind United with seven games to go. It's still a matter of when, not if, United clinches a 20th league title.
"We know we can win the title next season but this year we made some mistakes," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "It's unfortunate, we can do nothing."
What City can do is give United regular reminders in the coming weeks that the league's latest force is not going away, and the Old Trafford display can be seen as a statement of intent for next season.
Mancini has rarely been able to select a full-strength team this season, with key players Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Aguero missing for a variety of reasons. Save for Aguero, who started on the bench as he looks to recover his fitness after a recent injury, they were all there on Monday and it resulted in a dominant display at a ground where United has only lost once in the league this season - back in September to Tottenham Hotspur.
United manager Alex Ferguson said in his program notes the match was a "trial of strength" for City - and so it was.
"This group of players is no flash in the pan," City assistant coach David Platt said. "I think United will get over the line with the points they have got, but we aren't going away."
It is a crucial summer for Mancini - if he stays in his job, that is. In the last offseason, he failed to sign his major targets, which certainly included Robin van Persie and was also widely reported to include Daniele De Rossi from AS Roma, and Edin Hazard of Lille. Swansea City's Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell from Everton ended up being Mancini's top acquisitions, both of whom have flopped.
He can't miss out again this summer. A top center back is needed to partner or provide back-up to Kompany while the recruitment of a fast winger could be important to give City a 'Plan B.'
If Mancini gets his recruitment right, United manager Alex Ferguson will know his team has a fight on its hands to keep hold of the Premier League title.
The gloating began in earnest yesterday in English football's capital city after City gave a performance of a champion in a 2-1 win at Manchester United, sealed by Sergio Aguero's late wonder-goal.
However, United needs only to point at the English Premier League table as a response to its rival's taunts.
The inescapable fact is that City is 12 points behind United with seven games to go. It's still a matter of when, not if, United clinches a 20th league title.
"We know we can win the title next season but this year we made some mistakes," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "It's unfortunate, we can do nothing."
What City can do is give United regular reminders in the coming weeks that the league's latest force is not going away, and the Old Trafford display can be seen as a statement of intent for next season.
Mancini has rarely been able to select a full-strength team this season, with key players Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Aguero missing for a variety of reasons. Save for Aguero, who started on the bench as he looks to recover his fitness after a recent injury, they were all there on Monday and it resulted in a dominant display at a ground where United has only lost once in the league this season - back in September to Tottenham Hotspur.
United manager Alex Ferguson said in his program notes the match was a "trial of strength" for City - and so it was.
"This group of players is no flash in the pan," City assistant coach David Platt said. "I think United will get over the line with the points they have got, but we aren't going away."
It is a crucial summer for Mancini - if he stays in his job, that is. In the last offseason, he failed to sign his major targets, which certainly included Robin van Persie and was also widely reported to include Daniele De Rossi from AS Roma, and Edin Hazard of Lille. Swansea City's Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell from Everton ended up being Mancini's top acquisitions, both of whom have flopped.
He can't miss out again this summer. A top center back is needed to partner or provide back-up to Kompany while the recruitment of a fast winger could be important to give City a 'Plan B.'
If Mancini gets his recruitment right, United manager Alex Ferguson will know his team has a fight on its hands to keep hold of the Premier League title.
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