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Manchester City season review: March

By Jason Bardwell

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Phil Foden of Manchester City breaks away from Fabian Frei of FC Basel during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester City and FC Basel at Etihad Stadium on March 7, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Phil Foden of Manchester City breaks away from Fabian Frei of FC Basel during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester City and FC Basel at Etihad Stadium on March 7, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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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.

March would start the same way February ended. A trip to London to face Arsenal ended with City scoring three goals in the Nations capital. Both Silva’s and a Leroy Sane goal the difference on this occasion. The Thursday night game put the Blues 16 points clear of Manchester United in second place after now playing the same amount of games.

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Three days later and was the visit of reigning Champions, Chelsea. Earlier on in the season it was a single Kevin De Bruyne strike which separated the two. This game yielded the same result for City  with an early Bernardo Silva strike the difference on this day.

Manchester City took a break from the Premier League and rotated somewhat for the second leg, at home, to FC Basel Champions League game. With City enjoying a 4-0 lead from the first leg it was nice to see Phil Foden start.

Initially City took the lead through Gabriel Jesus with his first goal since November. With the game done as a contest it seemed City were fine with keeping possession without really attacking. This despite being pegged back only ten minutes after taking the lead.

So when the visitors took the lead with a little under twenty minutes remaining, it was tough for City to get going again. To be fair, City did have the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero on the bench and didn’t use them.

Instead Tosin Adarabioyo and Brahim Diaz got the nod. Experience for some fringe players was rightly more important than getting a result on the day. Win, lose or draw, Manchester City would always progress so why push.

A visit to Stoke followed, and a return to full strength. Once again it was David Silva to get a brace with his first coming ten minutes from the start. His second, five minutes from the restart, saw the points secured relatively early and comfortably.

That kept the distance at the top of the table as a fantastic 16 points. It would be a two-week wait until City would play again, this time away to Everton. Running away with a 3-0 lead when the referee blew for half-time, City were in total control. A Yannick Bolasie strike, just after the hour, did nothing to impact where the points were going.

Next: Season Review: February

In fact, City were so dominant that the 82.13% possession they enjoyed in the game was a new Premier League record. Never, since this data was recorded (2003/04) has an away side enjoyed so much of the ball.

As March came to an end Manchester City were facing a mouth-watering prospect. With City sixteen points ahead of United, and seven games remaining, a win at the Etihad against Mourinho would see the Blues win the League.

Being able to win it at home, against those in particular with Alexis Sanchez on the side too, would be fantastic. After his January shenanigans how good would it feel to be celebrating the title as he and the rest all trodden off, heads down.