“We dominated Barca, the result is more than deserved”
, Gundogan - 01/11/2016
Goals; Messi (21); Gundogan (39, 74); KDB (51)
Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Caballero (7.5)
Zabaleta (8)
Otamendi (7)
Stones (8)
Kolorov (7)
Gundogan (9.5),
Fernandinho (7.5) (Fernando (7) 60')
Sterling (8) (Navas (7) 71')
Silva (8),
De Bruyne (8.5) (Nolito (N/A) 90')
Aguero (8.5)
Stats; Possession 41%/59%; Shots 13(4)/9(3); Fouls 17/16.
Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Caballero (7.5)
Zabaleta (8)
Otamendi (7)
Stones (8)
Kolorov (7)
Gundogan (9.5),
Fernandinho (7.5) (Fernando (7) 60')
Sterling (8) (Navas (7) 71')
Silva (8),
De Bruyne (8.5) (Nolito (N/A) 90')
Aguero (8.5)
Stats; Possession 41%/59%; Shots 13(4)/9(3); Fouls 17/16.
If you were among the camp who had zero optimism heading into City’s sixth attempt at taking on the Catalan giants, you were not in the minority. Even after a blistering display at the Hawthorns, where City had put an end to a win-less streak that was starting to cause real concern, fans were reticent to hope for anything positive, having come to realize Barcelona are a different proposition to premier league opposition. In our previous six meetings with Barcelona, matches had always seemed to descend towards a ‘typical city’ climax with as many red cards as goals. However, the City that emerged last night were anything but ‘typical’.
City started the game similarly to the clash at the Camp Nou a fortnight ago, where they had in no way looked out of their depth, until Bravo's red card. Early pressure almost bearing fruit as Raheem Sterling was wrongly denied a penalty in the first ten minutes and picked up a laughable yellow card in the process. Boos rang around the Etihad, for the second time that evening, as the sinking feeling of “here we go again” started to creep into the minds of the faithful. This sinking feeling got considerably worse as another promising spell from City was quickly countered by Barcelona and ended in Messi sliding the ball passed Willy Cabellero. All that early pressure for nothing.
The remainder of the first half was a nervy one to say the least. City looked anxious. That early pressing which saw City match the Spanish Champions in the opening 20 minutes had dwindled as we began to stand off, leaving gaps for Messi, Suarez and Neymar to cause problems. Otamendi started to return to type and made some rash decisions. However, future England captain John Stones was excellent in covering the space, playing like he was born to fight at this level. Nevertheless, with only 28% possession from the 20th to 30th minute, it was going to take all sorts of stars to align, to get back in the game.
Perhaps the first of those stars, was DeBruyne. Having switched positions with Silva minutes before, DeBruyne's harassment of Sergi Roberto caused the Spaniard to release a stray pass, immediately latched upon by Aguero. The Argentinian hero of so many City games then slid the ball into the path of Sterling who then unselfishly teed up Gundogan to slot home at the back post. It was a goal that perfectly summed up Pep’s philosophy. Press, win the ball in the final third, and be ruthless.
This philosophy was certainly drilled into the players in the dressing room at half time. After the break City were fantastic, with arguably their best half of football ever in Europe. They didn’t let Barcelona breathe on the ball. They pressed high, not allowing ‘MSN’ any room to engineer. Again it was this pressing, from Aguero, who then found Silva at the edge of the box drawing a foul from Buqsuets (how he escaped a red all game is still a mystery). De Bruyne had not read the script. He unleashed a phenomenal freekick that goalkeeper Ter Stegan could only tickle as it whistled into the top right hand corner. For the first time, City were winning in a match versus Barcelona.
If ever you needed a picture that these City players wanted this more than anything, the celebration that followed painted a thousand words. The word passion gets thrown around so much in football that it has almost become an unobtainable threshold where these footballers will never show enough. That celebration blew those doors wide open. Pride in battle, off the badge but not off the pitch.
From this point onwards it could have been 4 or 5. Barcelona did not know how to handle City's more direct version of Barcelona's playing style. Messi started to come deeper and deeper looking for an opening that City were determined to keep shut. Where we had played ourselves into danger in previous games, we knew when to get rid. Aguero and Sterling always providing an outlet for the break.
A special mention is needed for our main man. Pep has said that he wants more from his strikers. They are not a separate entity from the rest of the pack, but the first line of pressure. Sergio was out to prove he was that perfect piece. He never stopped pressing, he provided outlets on both wings, linking with Silva, KDB and Sterling as part of a fluid machine. World Class.
Come 70’, at the time that all City fans looked at the clock and asked “how are there still 20 f***in minutes left?!” and thoughts crept to the inevitable Barca equaliser, this City team decided to turn it up another gear! In an "anything you can do, we can do better counter attack", Aguero nicked the ball off his mate Lionel and City flooded forward. Sergio found DeBruyne, who played a perfectly weighted through ball to Navas who was busting a gut to the byline to get his cross in. The cross that was just behind Aguero who could only let it hit his body for Gundogan to pick up the pieces and slam the decisive third goal home!
So much can be said of this performance. Gundogan and DeBruyne were worth their weight in gold. Stones was immovable. Zaba was colossal. Aguero proved why he should be knocking on the Ballon D’or. Last night was a milestone. The next step in this journey that we have strapped ourselves in for. We have the greatest manager in world football. We have shown that we are no longer also-rans in European competition. Typical city will stay in our hearts forever, but on 1/11/2016 the ashes were scattered and Pep's City is well and truly alive and kicking on!
City started the game similarly to the clash at the Camp Nou a fortnight ago, where they had in no way looked out of their depth, until Bravo's red card. Early pressure almost bearing fruit as Raheem Sterling was wrongly denied a penalty in the first ten minutes and picked up a laughable yellow card in the process. Boos rang around the Etihad, for the second time that evening, as the sinking feeling of “here we go again” started to creep into the minds of the faithful. This sinking feeling got considerably worse as another promising spell from City was quickly countered by Barcelona and ended in Messi sliding the ball passed Willy Cabellero. All that early pressure for nothing.
The remainder of the first half was a nervy one to say the least. City looked anxious. That early pressing which saw City match the Spanish Champions in the opening 20 minutes had dwindled as we began to stand off, leaving gaps for Messi, Suarez and Neymar to cause problems. Otamendi started to return to type and made some rash decisions. However, future England captain John Stones was excellent in covering the space, playing like he was born to fight at this level. Nevertheless, with only 28% possession from the 20th to 30th minute, it was going to take all sorts of stars to align, to get back in the game.
Perhaps the first of those stars, was DeBruyne. Having switched positions with Silva minutes before, DeBruyne's harassment of Sergi Roberto caused the Spaniard to release a stray pass, immediately latched upon by Aguero. The Argentinian hero of so many City games then slid the ball into the path of Sterling who then unselfishly teed up Gundogan to slot home at the back post. It was a goal that perfectly summed up Pep’s philosophy. Press, win the ball in the final third, and be ruthless.
This philosophy was certainly drilled into the players in the dressing room at half time. After the break City were fantastic, with arguably their best half of football ever in Europe. They didn’t let Barcelona breathe on the ball. They pressed high, not allowing ‘MSN’ any room to engineer. Again it was this pressing, from Aguero, who then found Silva at the edge of the box drawing a foul from Buqsuets (how he escaped a red all game is still a mystery). De Bruyne had not read the script. He unleashed a phenomenal freekick that goalkeeper Ter Stegan could only tickle as it whistled into the top right hand corner. For the first time, City were winning in a match versus Barcelona.
If ever you needed a picture that these City players wanted this more than anything, the celebration that followed painted a thousand words. The word passion gets thrown around so much in football that it has almost become an unobtainable threshold where these footballers will never show enough. That celebration blew those doors wide open. Pride in battle, off the badge but not off the pitch.
From this point onwards it could have been 4 or 5. Barcelona did not know how to handle City's more direct version of Barcelona's playing style. Messi started to come deeper and deeper looking for an opening that City were determined to keep shut. Where we had played ourselves into danger in previous games, we knew when to get rid. Aguero and Sterling always providing an outlet for the break.
A special mention is needed for our main man. Pep has said that he wants more from his strikers. They are not a separate entity from the rest of the pack, but the first line of pressure. Sergio was out to prove he was that perfect piece. He never stopped pressing, he provided outlets on both wings, linking with Silva, KDB and Sterling as part of a fluid machine. World Class.
Come 70’, at the time that all City fans looked at the clock and asked “how are there still 20 f***in minutes left?!” and thoughts crept to the inevitable Barca equaliser, this City team decided to turn it up another gear! In an "anything you can do, we can do better counter attack", Aguero nicked the ball off his mate Lionel and City flooded forward. Sergio found DeBruyne, who played a perfectly weighted through ball to Navas who was busting a gut to the byline to get his cross in. The cross that was just behind Aguero who could only let it hit his body for Gundogan to pick up the pieces and slam the decisive third goal home!
So much can be said of this performance. Gundogan and DeBruyne were worth their weight in gold. Stones was immovable. Zaba was colossal. Aguero proved why he should be knocking on the Ballon D’or. Last night was a milestone. The next step in this journey that we have strapped ourselves in for. We have the greatest manager in world football. We have shown that we are no longer also-rans in European competition. Typical city will stay in our hearts forever, but on 1/11/2016 the ashes were scattered and Pep's City is well and truly alive and kicking on!
@PatrickElano
