Man City 1-1 Napoli
Bayern 2-0 Man City
Man City 2-1 Villarreal
Villarreal 0-3 Man City
Napoli 2-1 Man City
Man City 2-0 Bayern
2012/2013:
Real Madrid 3-2 Man City
Man City 1-1 Dortmund
Ajax 3-1 Man City
Man City 2-2 Ajax
Here are Man City's Champions League results from the last 2 years, results that despite Roberto Mancini winning the title have meant that he is facing more and more pressure. Last season, City finished 3rd in their group, behind Napoli and eventual finalists Bayern Munich, and despite the disappointment many commentators put this down to nerves, with it being the teams first experience of the Champions League. However, even a 3rd place finish seems unlikely this year, with City 2 points behind Ajax and still to play Dortmund away and Real Madrid at home. So how exactly is it that a team that finished with 89 points from 38 games in the league last year has only managed to amass 12 points from their 10 games in the Champions League over the last 2 years?
First Season Nerves and Title Challenge:
Due to the UEFA seeding system, Man City were understandably ranked as a lower side, which meant that last year they were paired in a tough group, alongside Napoli, Bayern and Villarreal. This was the team's (as a whole) first experience of Europe's premier club competition, and a point could be made for the fact that inexperience and nerves could have got the better of the City, particularly in a year when they were amounting a serious title challenge- one they went on to win, which may not have happened if the team still had European ambitions, particularly with rivals Man Utd being knocked out at the same stage.
Poor Defending:
Defending is more of an issue in this seasons campaign, with seemingly constant confusion over switching from 4 at the back to 3, midway through a game. With 9 goals conceded already in the group stages, with games against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund remaining, one has to ask what has changed that has led to City letting in a flood of goals. Firstly, corners seems to be an issue. City have conceded 3 goals from corners in the last two games, against a much smaller Ajax side. This has led to criticism over the zonal marking system, however this is something I dealt with last week in my article on zonal marking (http://tacticalsunder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/zonal-marking-misunderstood-or-doomed.html) and is more down to the players/lack of practice than the system itself, exemplified in Yaya Toure's poor marking for both of Ajax's goals on Tuesday: (http://rutube.ru/video/020ed3743aa7f8a12437ad9fc35ac591/)
The Etihad:
Fear Factor:
Post oil money Man City can be seen as a relatively new club and have only started to exert their dominance in the last year or so. This has given them a psychological strangle hold over other English teams, but has not paralysed Europe's elite who may still view City has up and coming. Again I point to Liverpool, who have had the inverse experience, pulling out good results in Europe over the last 10 years whilst struggling domestically, perhaps due to the fear they have placed in teams from their historical dominance. Once again, this may come with experience and more title challenges for Man City, but City will have to get used to teams coming at them in Europe, unlike in the Premier League, where they may be accustomed to teams sitting back and defending.
Lady Luck:
Bayern 2-0 Man City
Man City 2-1 Villarreal
Villarreal 0-3 Man City
Napoli 2-1 Man City
Man City 2-0 Bayern
2012/2013:
Real Madrid 3-2 Man City
Man City 1-1 Dortmund
Ajax 3-1 Man City
Man City 2-2 Ajax
Here are Man City's Champions League results from the last 2 years, results that despite Roberto Mancini winning the title have meant that he is facing more and more pressure. Last season, City finished 3rd in their group, behind Napoli and eventual finalists Bayern Munich, and despite the disappointment many commentators put this down to nerves, with it being the teams first experience of the Champions League. However, even a 3rd place finish seems unlikely this year, with City 2 points behind Ajax and still to play Dortmund away and Real Madrid at home. So how exactly is it that a team that finished with 89 points from 38 games in the league last year has only managed to amass 12 points from their 10 games in the Champions League over the last 2 years?
First Season Nerves and Title Challenge:
Due to the UEFA seeding system, Man City were understandably ranked as a lower side, which meant that last year they were paired in a tough group, alongside Napoli, Bayern and Villarreal. This was the team's (as a whole) first experience of Europe's premier club competition, and a point could be made for the fact that inexperience and nerves could have got the better of the City, particularly in a year when they were amounting a serious title challenge- one they went on to win, which may not have happened if the team still had European ambitions, particularly with rivals Man Utd being knocked out at the same stage.
Poor Defending:
Defending is more of an issue in this seasons campaign, with seemingly constant confusion over switching from 4 at the back to 3, midway through a game. With 9 goals conceded already in the group stages, with games against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund remaining, one has to ask what has changed that has led to City letting in a flood of goals. Firstly, corners seems to be an issue. City have conceded 3 goals from corners in the last two games, against a much smaller Ajax side. This has led to criticism over the zonal marking system, however this is something I dealt with last week in my article on zonal marking (http://tacticalsunder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/zonal-marking-misunderstood-or-doomed.html) and is more down to the players/lack of practice than the system itself, exemplified in Yaya Toure's poor marking for both of Ajax's goals on Tuesday: (http://rutube.ru/video/020ed3743aa7f8a12437ad9fc35ac591/)
The Etihad:
An observation that can be made when watching any of Man City's European fixtures over the last two years is the noise level, or lack of, from the crowd. Even after Yaya Toure's scissor kick got the Citizens back in the game on Tuesday, the Ajax fans seemed to be cheering louder than those in blue. However, does this really make a difference? Well the fact that City have picked up 9 of their 12 points gained in Europe over the last two years at home would suggest not. However when 15 points have been up for grabs, an argument could be made that City need to draw strength from their crowd to maximise their potential at home. Just ask fans of Liverpool, who would argue that the 12th man makes all the difference and can help carry a team over the line. This may well come from more experience, however it may go some way to explaining why City have been unable to set Europe alight.
Fear Factor:
Post oil money Man City can be seen as a relatively new club and have only started to exert their dominance in the last year or so. This has given them a psychological strangle hold over other English teams, but has not paralysed Europe's elite who may still view City has up and coming. Again I point to Liverpool, who have had the inverse experience, pulling out good results in Europe over the last 10 years whilst struggling domestically, perhaps due to the fear they have placed in teams from their historical dominance. Once again, this may come with experience and more title challenges for Man City, but City will have to get used to teams coming at them in Europe, unlike in the Premier League, where they may be accustomed to teams sitting back and defending.
Lady Luck:
Bayern Munich, Napoli, Villarreal- Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax. Not the easiest set of groups, i'm sure you would agree. A lot of criticism has been aimed at Man City, however, have they just been unlucky to be drawn against such tough opponents? Last season they gained 10 points in the group stages, which is usually enough to take a team through, but just missed out to the eventual finalists Bayern, and Napoli who lost to Chelsea in dramatic circumstances in the knockout stages. This season's 'group of death' has included the domestic champions from Spain, Germany and Holland, and City could be forgiven for not running away with it. However, two poor results against Ajax- who with all due respect can be seen as the weakest side in the group- have led to suggestions that City have underperformed by not even challenging. City were also fairly unlucky against Real Madrid, conceding in the dying moments, although a fortuitous penalty against Dortmund may have balanced this out. Decisions did not go City's way in their 2-2 draw at Ajax on Tuesday, with a contentious offside decision as well as the referee's descision to blow the final whistle instead of awarding a penalty for a blatant shirt pull on Mario Balotelli. Mancini:
A slightly more extreme school of thought is that Roberto Mancini is simply not made for the European success. He has won back to back titles with Inter and broke the record for most number of league points in any European league (97) which stood until 2010. However, his best achievement in Europe is arguably helping Lazio reach the Semi-finals of the UEFA cup. His Inter side were knocked out in the first round by Valencia in 2007 and by Liverpool in the second round the following year. He was consequently replaced by Jose Mourinho who went on to win the competition in his one and only season in Italy. Add this to the City's poor results and some may argue that Mancini is perhaps tactically to naive, or stubborn to succeed in Europe. However, this may be somewhat harsh as he has shown his tactical prowess on numerous occasions, and only time will tell (assuming the board give him it) if he can reach the pinnacle of European glory.
Conclusion:
Man City have faced overwhelming criticism for their poor results in the Champions league over the last two years, and after spending almost £1 billion since Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008 expectations have been high. There are several reasons for the teams inability to perform in the Champions League, including: poor defending, nerves, focus on the premier league, luck and for some Roberto Mancini. However, the largest factor seems to be the teams inexperience in the competition. They have yet to plant their place amongst Europe's elite meaning they are unable to psychologically overwhelm their opponents, the crowd has not yet developed that passion for European nights and the seeding system as meant that they have been drawn in extremely tough groups. It could be argued that the criticism levelled at the team is harsh, as other cash rich teams like Chelsea took 9 years to win the competition, post-billionaire (though they did reach the semi-finals 2 years after Abramovich took over). Real Madrid have regularly spent large sums of money on improving their squad, yet have not won the Champions League in 10 years. Time, is the major factor, with a battle between the growing maturity of the team in Europe, and the consequent increase in rank for seeding, and the patience of the board and fans. With more and more teams finding cash strapped owners, Europe's traditional elite are being faced with new competition every year. It seems like only a matter of time before City challenge for this prize, and perhaps with a greater team spirit and tactical awareness as well some sprinkling of luck the English champions may well fulfill their potential in Europe.
Man City have faced overwhelming criticism for their poor results in the Champions league over the last two years, and after spending almost £1 billion since Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008 expectations have been high. There are several reasons for the teams inability to perform in the Champions League, including: poor defending, nerves, focus on the premier league, luck and for some Roberto Mancini. However, the largest factor seems to be the teams inexperience in the competition. They have yet to plant their place amongst Europe's elite meaning they are unable to psychologically overwhelm their opponents, the crowd has not yet developed that passion for European nights and the seeding system as meant that they have been drawn in extremely tough groups. It could be argued that the criticism levelled at the team is harsh, as other cash rich teams like Chelsea took 9 years to win the competition, post-billionaire (though they did reach the semi-finals 2 years after Abramovich took over). Real Madrid have regularly spent large sums of money on improving their squad, yet have not won the Champions League in 10 years. Time, is the major factor, with a battle between the growing maturity of the team in Europe, and the consequent increase in rank for seeding, and the patience of the board and fans. With more and more teams finding cash strapped owners, Europe's traditional elite are being faced with new competition every year. It seems like only a matter of time before City challenge for this prize, and perhaps with a greater team spirit and tactical awareness as well some sprinkling of luck the English champions may well fulfill their potential in Europe.
No comments:
Post a Comment