THE ASIAN WEEKLY
Date: 12.04.2015
Page 18
Article size: 253 cm2
ColumnCM: 56.22
AVE: 0.0
SOCCER
STRICTURE
HAVE MANCHESTER CITY BLOWN
THEIR TITLE DEFENCE?
Manchester City's Premier League title defence is
in tatters. They have dropped points in uncharac­
teristic ways. The shock 2­1 defeat to Crystal Palace
makes it three loses in their last five games ­ a far
cry from a championship winning side.
Last season saw them put up a tremendous fight to
clinch the title on the last day of the season, wres­
tling Liverpool all the while. However, despite addi­
tions to the squad, the side has often been deplor­
able in front of goal and rather naive at the back.
In a recent interview, now a pundit, for­
mer Manchester United defender, Gary
Kil e was quoted saying, "They've got
entality probtem. There's no doubt,
team cannot sustain success."
In a scathing attack on their title cre­
f dentials, Neville added, "When you win
championships, you've got to be able
'"They can't sustain success by winning back­to­back champion­
ships. They're getting older. Their average age is the highest in the
league at 29 and a half. Unfortunately some of those lads not go­
ing to be there next season. They're going to pay for what is a
disappointing season, it is looking like now"
"They're going to get into the top four but that Manchester City
team with the ambition that they have got and with the quality
they should be doing a lot better."
And indeed, they should be. With the creativity of David Sitva, the
industry of Yaya Toure, the reliability of Fernandinho, the speed
of Jesus Navas, the predatory instincts of Sergio Aguero and the
energy of Wilfried Bony, surely they could muster enough goals to
compensate for any error at the back... At least that is what many
think.
However, what is becoming fairly evident is the lack of a plan B in
the side. Looking closely, Jesus Navas, a more direct and old­fash­
ioned winger should be providing that. However, when started,
Man City lose their plan B, Edin Dzeko, a terrific header of the ball
thing that can happen.'
is often deprived ofthe service to net the all­important goals, thus
is unable to make the required difference when called upon. Fur­
thermore, with Manchester City simply failing to adjust their play
from possessional play and intricate passing to wing play, they do
not aid the outcomes of matches. It is high time they learn to play
ugly if it means earning three points, or risk stagnating at number
The former Red Devils, went on to rant,
four until the end ofthe season.
to come back again and show the same
hunger. They don't. They drop off it.
They get to the top of the mountain and
go, 'phew, we did it,' and it's the worst
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