Manchester City 3 – 0 Liverpool
Liverpool may have been about to start a decline which didn’t stop till they reached the relegation zone, but City’s comfortable demolition of one of England’s biggest clubs was as big an early season statement of intent as they come. Goals from Carlos Tevez (2) and Gareth Barry fired an early warning shot across the bows of their rivals as the Blue side of Manchester announced their new season in some style.
Manchester City 1 - 0 Chelsea
A solid, if somewhat stale, follow up to their sinking of one of the Premiership’s big four, this match came hot on the heels of City manager Roberto Mancini conceding the title to Chelsea. Mind games, hoopla or a calculated sound bite? It didn’t matter as City showed that they were determined to fight for the title. And that challenge rested on home wins over the top teams.
Finishing top of Europa League Group A
Despite an away defeat, in a game featuring much of their reserve side, Manchester City proved their ambitions extend to continental glory as well as domestic hegemony. Europe’s biggest clubs have a legacy of winning both league titles and European crowns. So apparently shall Manchester City. City set themselves up for a strong Europa League campaign, besting Italian giants Juventus to win their group, in a composed set of fall performances.
Switzerland 1 – 3 England
Although the win may have been for the national side, the impressive away performance was forged in the fires of Eastlands. Six City players featured for the England team, five of them playing 85 minutes or more. City’s future may be blue, but it is both young and very English. Adam Johnson scored for the second game in a row, Joe Hart was assured once again in goal and England’s potential spine for years to come will be training together in Manchester.
Mancini comes of age in England
Inimitably attired in designer duds but impossible to read, Roberto Mancini has kept his thoughts to himself while holding his nerve in the most frenzied league in the world. In a country where tabloids are quick to pounce on the slightest of comments, he has refused to be drawn into the famous mind games of some of the division’s cannier operators, not least crosstown rival Alex Ferguson. City’s maturity is a reflection of their manager’s mental nous.
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