Defence is a worry for Pellegrini
IT’S A GLOVE STORY
Joe Hart started the season in exceptional form, with seven successive clean sheets for club and country. things have changed. Sevilla’s goal made it the eighth successive game in all competitions that City have failed to keep a clean sheet. Hart’s deputy Willy Caballero played in two of them but this is worrying for Pellegrini. at least Hart, who has won the Barclays Premier League’s Golden Glove four times, could not be faulted for Sevilla’s 30th-minute opener. there was one bizarre lapse from Hart when he tried to throw the ball to aleksandr Kolarov but he got away with it.
A STAR IS BORN
Jose Mourinho claimed Kevin de Bruyne used to go to his office crying every day because he was not an automatic selection at Chelsea. Here there were tears of joy in the stands after the City star scored his fifth goal in nine games since his £54m move from Wolfsburg. Pellegrini’s bold decision to promote De Bruyne to play up front with Yaya toure in the final minutes led to City’s dramatic winner. He got City off the hook here and he left the field with City supporters singing his name. after an impressive start to his City career, he’s making sure Mourinho never forgets him.
BADGE OF HONOUR
Nobody wears the City badge — the subject of consultation with fans over a potential change — with more pride than right back Pablo Zabaleta. the argentinian epitomises everything good about the club with his leadership skills on the pitch and his willingness to immerse himself in City culture. the signs are, though, that he is slowing down following a pre-season programme disrupted by injury. this was only his third start of the season and he was only picked to play in his usual position because Bacary Sagna had been switched to the left in a misguided attempt to keep Sevilla’s wingers quiet. Inevitably he was sacrificed in the second half, with Sagna taking his usual position with Kolarov at left back.
EMERY’S PEP TALK
Unai Emery’S standing at Sevilla was enhanced when they beat Barcelona 2-1 just before the international break. His mannerisms on the touchline mirror those of Pep Guardiola, living and breathing every moment of the game and constantly barking instructions at his players. With Borussia Monchengladbach struggling to make an impact, it looks a straight fight between City and Sevilla for the second spot behind Juventus.
WHAT ATMOSPHERE?
tHINGS really picked up when De Bruyne scored the winner, but the etihad Stadium still feels like Champions League nights are a necessary evil. these games should be the start of an adventure, a journey into the unknown against Juventus (last season’s Champions League finalists), Sevilla (four time europa League winners) and German giants Monchengladbach. Instead there were 10,000 empty seats and we were left with the feeling that City fans would happily trade a win in the Champions League for victory at old trafford.
SORRY KOMPANY
Vincent Kompany made all the right noises at the start of the season about City rediscovering their mojo, but the captain was a notable omission from the starting line-up. He did come on, deep into injury time, but Pellegrini admitted that he prefers the partnership of Nicolas otamendi and eliaquim Mangala. the City defender has only just returned from injury and then played for Belgium, much to Pellegrini’s annoyance. right now, he is paying the price for putting his country before his club.
STERLING SILVER
raHeeM SterLING scored a hat-trick against Bournemouth on Saturday but he made us wait until the 72nd minute for a moment of magic here. His diagonal ball pinged from the outside of his boot down the left to Wilfried Bony created a golden opportunity. Sadly the City striker was not on the same wavelength and the pass was easily intercepted. For vision, class and speed, Sterling’s ball deserved so much better. Four minutes later Bony, instrumental in City’s equaliser in the first half, was replaced by Fernando. Nearly a year on from his move from Swansea, he still looks a touch short of the class required.