Switch that won City title decider
WHILE GUNDOGAN SCORED THE GOALS ZINCHENKO WAS BLUES’ UNSUNG HERO
ILKAY Gundogan became a legend when he scored those two goals from a combined total of three yards in City’s title-winning comeback on Sunday, while Rodri enhanced his claim as the Blues’ real Player of the Season with his goal.
With City two goals down, the comeback created even more heroes at a club who will soon run out of space for statues at the Etihad, or pitches at the training ground to name after key players. But when the dust settles, City will remember another player as playing a key, but understated role in the Aston Villa win.
The half-time change to take off Fernandinho and bring on Aleks Zinchenko was bold, given the captain’s departure after the game, but it was a switch that won City the title. And it might save them a few million in the transfer market too. The experiment to play John Stones at right-back and Fernandinho in the middle with Kyle Walker presumably not fit was one that didn’t work, so Zinchenko was called for at the break. Joao Cancelo switched to the right, Stones back to the centre, and Zinchenko took up his usual left-back spot.
It immediately offered more balance to the side, and it was Zinchenko’s attacking intentions that helped City back into a game they looked to have thrown away. When he skipped past his right-back and laid it back for Rodri to sidefoot into the bottom corner, the Etihad erupted and City had recovered a two-goal lead.
Zinchenko gave City more of an outlet from left-back when they needed it, with Cancelo more relaxed on the right. Gundogan may have won the game for City, but Zinchenko will be the unsung hero, and his emotion at full time after an unimaginably difficult few months was clear. 24 hours later, on the parade through Manchester, Zinchenko appeared on Cancelo’s Instagram to declare the Portuguese full-back the best in the world on both sides of the defence. He knows he is not the best left-back at City, but time and again he proves his usefulness in that position and he has been a key man in this runin as Cancelo has been needed on the right.
With the season over, attention now turns to the transfer market, with City acting quickly to sign Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland to improve their attack.
There is talk of England duo Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice being targets to succeed Fernandinho – although City have made it clear there is no interest in Rice. After defensive midfield, left-back is another area that looks in need of improving. Cancelo’s long-term future could be on the right when Walker retires, leaving just Zinchenko and Nathan Ake as left-back options – neither player being natural in that spot.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see City explore a left-back this summer, and it will remain a long-term position for strengthening.