Manchester City season review: February
What a season it’s been for the Blues. Records have fallen and the Premier League has been won in a very special way. We have seen some highs. We have seen some lows. Questions on Pep’s style of play answered and, for the most part, domination of the English game.
As Manchester City entered February the quadruple would still be on. By the time February had ended, so had those dreams, and yet there was still celebrations such is the nature of Manchester City.
First up was a trip away to Burnley in the League, and a tough fought 1-1 draw. The Cityzens had taken the lead on 22 minutes through Danilo, and looked good for the win for the majority of the game. However the 71% possession and peppering the Burnley goal with shots counted for little when Gudmundsson put away one of Burnley’s three shots on target.
Raheem Sterling did have a beautiful chance to double City’s advantage, but somehow missed from six yards form a Walker cross. The Englishman was substituted soon after, although it was not for the miss claimed Pep. From there Burnley’s confidence increased, and they got their point.
It was a much easier, on paper at least, day for City back at the Etihad in their next game. A visiting Leicester City found themselves behind early with a Raheem goal. As the media’s villain of the previous game, he soon found a quick response to his critics.
Of course Jamie Vardy got in on the action also, with a goal midway through the half. That would be how the sides exited the pitch at half time, even. In the second half though, it was all City. It would be the Sergio Aguero second half show with two goals in the opening ten minutes.
Another two goals followed in the final thirteen minutes to make it Manchester City 5, Leicester City 1. It was good preparation for the Champions League game in Switzerland three days later. Ilkay Gundogan scored a brace in what was one of his better games. City left Basel with a 4-0 first leg win, more than enough to progress.
Six days later though, one wheel came off the City juggernaut when they made the trip to Wigan for their FA Cup fixture. The side who beat us in the final in Roberto Mancini’s last season were up for the game.
A rush of blood from Fabian Delph initially saw the referee reach for a yellow card as punishment for the incident. However, after Wigan players surrounded the referee that card, which was in his hand, was replaced with a straight red. Delph was off, City were down to ten men and still the second half of the game to go.
Pep Guardiola made his thoughts clear, both at the time and in the tunnel with the opposition manager. In truth the side did well until a mistake from Kyle Walker allowed Will Grigg in. The Wigan forward beat Bravo quite easily to end the City dream of four trophies in the one season.
With the Carabao Cup next up, February was in danger of being a bad month for City. Imagine losing the Carabao Cup to Arsenal only days after being knocked out of the FA Cup to Wigan. No matter our League form the media would have put the boot in on the side.
As it happened we would not only win the cup, but win it in style. Sergio Aguero out muscled Arsenal’s Mustafi before finishing comfortably. In the second half Vincent Kompany doubled the lead only minutes after Kyle Walker had thwarted Aubameyang.
David Silva put the finishing touch on the day as the old guard flourished. All three scorers on this day were purchased before the first Premier League trophy was won. For Kompany, it was before the takeover happened!
It would be a confidence boost for the Blues and one they would take into March!