Sane at the double
AFTER the gluttony of 15 goals in three games, Manchester City were made to work for this victory that was secured by a thumping late strike from Leroy Sane.
Pep Guardiola’s team dominated West Bromwich Albion, yet found Ben Foster in excellent nick and looked like requiring extra time when Claudio Yacob equalised Sane’s opener in the 72nd minute.
West Brom even went close to a winner with 14 minutes left when James Morrison forced Claudio Bravo into action. But City countered at pace through Bernardo Silva, then Sane, and the German cut inside Craig Dawson to fire in and ensure progression.
Additional time might still have been required had Hal RobsonKanu finished better. Having already scuffed one great chance, the ball fell his way eight yards out in the dying stages. But he hurried his shot and struck the post.
Guardiola made eight changes yet deserved to go through and the only blemish concerns Ilkay Gundogan, who was forced off injured in the second half on his first start since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last December.
Gundogan had been imperious, gliding straight back into action, and wore a pained expression when walking off flexing his left knee. Guardiola gave a positive diagnosis though, saying the injury was ‘not serious’ and expected the midfielder ‘back soon’.
Gundogan was one of the new faces in City’s line-up, but can hardly be considered a reserve, and the same goes for Yaya Toure, who played his 300th game for the club. Ahead of those two, Sane, Silva, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus was some force.
Trying to halt them must be like attempting to plug a pockmarked waterpipe with your hands — the bursts come from everywhere.
Tony Pulis gave it a go by adding a defender to his usual formation and picking two holding midfielders. But after just two minutes and 26 seconds the back-five dam ruptured. Sterling’s cross reached Gundogan in the box, Foster produced a fine save but the rebound fell to Sane, who finished well.
More City chances came thick and fast. Foster palmed away Eliaquim Mangala’s header, Jesus spun Gareth McAuley but fired over, and on the stroke of half-time Sterling tested Foster again with a delicious curling shot.
Nine minutes after the break came the incident that had Guardiola ‘fearing the worst’. The
irony being it was a product of Gundogan’s brilliance. The German turned majestically away from Yacob on the edge of his own area and powered 60 yards to reach West Brom’s box. Yacob committed a foul from behind that left Gundogan punching the turf. Yacob was booked but Gundogan can be relieved the injury was not to his previously hurt right knee.
City regrouped and on the hour Sterling drew another save from Foster, this time with his legs.
But then West Brom hit back. City defended a corner from Kieran Gibbs dreadfully to allow Jonny Evans and Yacob vast space four yards out. City’s villain-inchief prodded in to score.
Robson-Kanu then sliced an excellent chance when set up by Matt Phillips. But City always looked capable of scoring again and Sane duly delivered.
Guardiola said: ‘We created a lot of chances. But I know how complicated this stadium is against a Pulis team. When you are only 1-0 up and you concede corners, freekicks and throw-ins, you suffer. But I am so happy.’ Pulis said: ‘We were creating opportunities against one of the top teams in Europe.’
MANCHESTER CITY are being investigated by FIFA for breaching their regulations on youth players.
The club are the latest to be probed by world football’s governing body around their conduct involving foreign players under the age of 18. yesterday
Sportsmail revealed that Chelsea are facing an FIFA inquiry into youth signings.
City have already fallen foul of Premier League rules on youngsters after they were deemed to have contacted the parents of players too early in the recruitment process. They were banned for two years from signing academy players and fined £300,000.
Now FIFA are looking into their conduct with foreign youngsters. A FIFA spokesman told Sportsmail: ‘We can confirm that an investigation is ongoing. Please note that we cannot provide any details concerning the matters under investigation.’
City declined to comment but a club source insisted they are confident they have nothing to answer for. He added that they have not been contacted by FIFA on the matter and are unaware of any investigation.
FIFA take a dim view when the rules on youth players are broken. Atletico Madrid are under a worldwide transfer ban for breaching FIFA rules over the signing of minors and lost an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Real Madrid were also punished last year but had their transfer ban reduced from two transfer windows to one.
Liverpool have also been in breach of Premier League rules around academy players. They were found guilty of offering prohibited inducements to a player and his family. The club were also banned for two years from signing academy players and fined £100,000. MANCHESTER CITY are in talks with Fernandinho over a new contract at the Etihad.
The five-year deal signed by the Brazil midfielder when he signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30million in 2013 is due to run out next year and it is understood there is a willingness on both sides to agree new terms as quickly as possible.
Fernandinho, 32, has been one of City’s most consistent performers under Pep Guardiola and started every game this season before last night’s Carabao Cup tie at West Bromwich Albion, where he was on the bench.