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Manchester City 2-0 West Ham: Under UEFA’s nose

ByJ.C. Gonzalez|
West Ham United's Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta (R) embraces Manchester City's English midfielder Phil Foden on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. - Manchester City won the game 2-0. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United's Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta (R) embraces Manchester City's English midfielder Phil Foden on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. - Manchester City won the game 2-0. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

While most were focused on midweek UEFA Champions League action, Manchester City returned to the pitch in comfortable fashion with a dominant 2-0 win against a struggling West Ham United.

Manchester City played their first match in 17 days as they strolled past a West Ham team in dire straits in a rescheduled fixture. While it was odd to have City play in the Premier League on a Champions League matchday, they looked fresh and recovered ahead of their crucial battles with third-place Leicester and Real Madrid over the course of the next week.

The competition may not be at the level of those teams, but it is important for the Citizens to build real momentum and find their footing before they resume their Champions League campaign. While the current off-the-pitch situation with UEFA’s two-year European ban imposed for FFP violations did harm the overall atmosphere of the day, having the team back out on the Etihad Stadium pitch and winning a Premier League game will go a long way to help supporters to focus on the here and now.

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After Rodri opened the scoring, the game remained a 1-0 affair for much of the evening, with most of the game being played in West Ham’s defensive third before a moment of sheer quality from Kevin de Bruyne doubled the lead and finished the game. Pablo Zabaleta received a fantastic reception after being subbed into the game, as the club legend finishes his final campaign in the English top flight with the Hammers.

This team can still claim significant silverware this season in spite of everything that’s happened. Today’s match may not directly affect trophies, but its important for players and fans to carry on, to move forward, and not get bogged down in everything that’s happened, and a simple 2-0 win against West Ham is the perfect start to the future.