City reflect on successful weekend and now stand on brink of European progression

The start of a new week always provides the opportunity for reflection, as well as anticipation for what lies ahead. Manchester City can look back on a weekend of successful work that provided plenty of re-assurance about how well set the team are for their title challenge.

Looking forward, there is a huge Champions League game which provides an opportunity for early progression to the Round of 16.

Team spirit and crowd impatience on display against Norwich

The Blues have become accustomed to steamrolling teams at the Etihad stadium in recent weeks. Newcastle were sent back to the North East with a 6-1 hiding to show for their efforts while Bournemouth fared little better, taking a 5-1 beating in Manchester. In the Capital One Cup against Crystal Palace, City hit five again; the Eagles suffered an identical fate to Bournemouth.

You would have been forgiven for assuming that Norwich would face a similar fate; the Canaries have been in poor form recently. However, in their game against table-topping City they put up their best display of the season so far. They were exceptionally well organised in defence and it caused a host of problems for Manuel Pellegrini’s men as they struggled to break through a strong rearguard action.

When Nicolas Otamendi gave City the lead in the 67th minute, there was little reason to think that the visitors would threaten the home side’s claim to the three points. However, with just seven minutes remaining, Joe Hart made an uncharacteristic error, implausibly dropping the ball at the feet of Norwich striker Cameron Jerome to give him a chance at an equaliser; he couldn’t pass it up if he tried.

The league leaders displayed fantastic spirit to rally and produce a last-gasp victory. The closing stages of the game were hectic but the Blues were resolute enough to see the game through. That spirit and mentality to keep plugging away will be crucial as the season meanders on. There will be plenty of difficult games between now and May; triumphs like this are necessary for any team with title ambitions.

In the stands, this was probably the most impatient and flustered the home supporters have been this season. They already appear to have grown tired of Wilfried Bony, the Ivorian striker who has, for various reasons, struggled to find his feet. There is a special kind of groan and subsequent murmuring reserved for the moments immediately after Bony has missed a chance; it must be adding to his complete loss of confidence.

Bizarrely, Raheem Sterling is also attracting some stick. Any bad touch or poor pass is greeted with disdain from supporters; that section of the crowd remains a minority, but it’s an increasingly sizeable one. The honeymoon period is well and truly over for the young Englishman. Fans seem to want him to be the key player instantly, foregoing the understanding that the £44m City paid for the 20 year old was a long-term investment, aimed at far more than short-term results. He’s doing fine; the Etihad crowd would do well to keep their expectations in check sometimes.

Huge Opportunity Against Sevilla

City head to Spain on Tuesday for their latest European outing. There, they will face a Sevilla team that they have already defeated in this year’s competition. Regardless of the result between Juventus and Borussia Mönchengladbach on the same night, a City win would put them on the brink of qualification for the Round of 16. However, if the tourists were to claim three points and Juventus also won their game, City’s progression from the group would be officially confirmed.

For a team who lost their first game, that they should stand so close to an impressive qualification is a remarkable turn around. The nature of losing the initial fixture of the group stage is that it leaves the side playing catch-up right from the off.

To get to this point, City have posted stoppage-time wins against Mönchengladbach and Sevilla respectively. Whilst not looking spectacular in either game, the fight-‘til-the-end mentality in evidence suggests that some significant mental blockades that inhibit the Blues in Europe are slowly beginning to fall.

That will serve them well on their travels this week. The team will have their problems; it is not ideal that Wilfried Bony is their only striking option, owing to Sergio Agüero’s ongoing injury recovery and youngster Kelechi Iheanacho not being included in the squad. With City knowing that even a draw is more favourable to them than the La Liga side, it would make sense for them to make use of Bony’s skill in holding up the ball and slowing the game down.

As ever when they take to a Champions League pitch, there is plenty of reason for City caution, but they also stand on the verge of posting their joint-quickest Champions League qualification. Without pulling up trees, the team is quietly turning this European campaign into a success; progression almost under the radar might just be the best thing for them.