Henry Winter: Sense of certainty around Manchester City side on the cusp of greatness
Manchester City’s FA Cup win has put it on the cusp of joining two of England’s greatest ever sides. It also showed how hard it will be for Manchester United to catch up, writes HENRY WINTER.
Football
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After the day of north travels south, Manchester City head to the city where east meets west. All points of the compass show the way to greatness for this remarkable team of Pep Guardiola’s. If they overcome Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday, City will stand alongside the legendary teams of the English game: Liverpool ‘84 and Manchester United ‘99.
Greatness is a word too easily thrown about, but it should soon be applied to this City side, shaped by Guardiola’s tactical ingenuity and will to win. They are the team for all reasons: including the blossoming of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Jack Grealish into players of truly elite substance and Rodri’s total command of midfield; including Ilkay Gundogan’s quiet leadership and lethal finishing when the honours beckon, Kevin De Bruyne’s vision and precision and Erling Haaland’s ferocious work ethic.
There is a certainty about City. Their fans used to worry that Guardiola would make a strange decision, such as going into a midfield battle with Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final without a midfield destroyer. Rodri and Fernandinho started on the bench. Guardiola leaves nothing to chance now. His first XI is established; the only decision required for the Ataturk Olympic Stadium is whether Nathan Ake returns for Manuel Akanji. Bernardo Silva’s greater defensive contribution should mean he will, rightly, start ahead of Riyad Mahrez again.
The certainty that permeates an imperious, balanced blend of technique and teamwork is enhanced by an intensity of purpose from first whistle to last. In the opening 12 seconds the movement of the ball went: Gundogan kick-off, Stefan Ortega, Haaland, De Bruyne, Gundogan goal. City were primed like elite athletes for the starting gun. United were the opposite: nobody pressed Ortega, while Casemiro and Victor Lindelof lost their aerial challenges, and nobody tracked Gundogan.
United got back into the game through Grealish’s body suddenly becoming “unnaturally large”, unwittingly handling a header from the excellent Aaron Wan-Bissaka and conceding a penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes after 33 minutes. It was cruel, the rule clearly designed by those who have never leapt for a ball, and the VAR, David Coote, had little choice but to guide the on-field referee, Paul Tierney, to the monitor. Blame the lawmakers, not the law-dispensers.
City regained control, and secured the Double when Gundogan met De Bruyne’s free kick six minutes after the break. United’s grasp of the concept of concentration and marking was again lacking. City did not even need to be close to their best to win the FA Cup.
The usual caveat needs to be applied about the 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League rules laid against City, all denied by the club. A swift conclusion is vital this summer so that City’s feats can be celebrated even more warmly, or placed in cold context, and suitable sanctions imposed, such as a points deduction (fines are meaningless). A delay just damages the game further. Football should not have its urgent need for clarity stymied by lawyers.
Some speedier decision-making this summer is also required for United when it comes to the protracted takeover. Some of Erik ten Hag’s transfer plans are on hold, although the move for Mason Mount seems increasingly advanced. But how good would it be to pair him in midfield with his good friend Declan Rice? And install Harry Kane in attack? Such moves take time and large budgets as well as guidance and clearance from the board.
The importance of Financial Fair Play, encouraging responsible spending, even if much of the devil is in the detail, is highlighted in United’s poor judgment in the transfer window (though not under Ten Hag) and they will have to balance their books better with sales. A clearout is required anyway. David de Gea’s errant kicking and occasional mistakes cast a doubt over his future. Harry Maguire needs to move on, reigniting his career in a season that climaxes with the European Championship finals. Fred concedes too many free kicks and should have been punished with a penalty for catching De Bruyne. Christian Eriksen may return from the summer refreshed; otherwise United have to look beyond him.
What should most alarm United as they contemplate their rebuild is not only how few of their players would have got into City’s team on Saturday – possibly only Luke Shaw – but how few of their subs would have got on City’s bench – probably only Alejandro Garnacho.
Guardiola brought on Phil Foden, one of the best young technicians in Europe and already the winner of five titles at 23, Aymeric Laporte, a strong, talented left-footed centre back in a world needing more of them, and Ake, an able, mobile defender who has been one of the most effective left backs in the Premier League this season. Ten Hag brought on Garnacho, a hugely exciting, confident prospect who briefly took the game to City and should mature into a first choice, and the willing but limited pair of Wout Weghorst and Scott McTominay.
Remaining in reserve for City were one of the best goalkeepers about, Ederson, a world champion in Julian Alvarez, the hugely promising pair of Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer, a wing wizard in Mahrez and the pounds 42 million Kalvin Phillips, England men’s player of the year in 2020-21. United had the unwanted Maguire, a back-up right back in Diogo Dalot, a goalkeeper on loan from Crystal Palace in Jack Butland, an understudy left back still picking up the pace of English football, Tyrell Malacia, and two players, in Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga, in wide areas where United have other options. Beyond Garnacho, there were no elite-level game-changers on their bench.
Ten Hag is missing Lisandro Martinez, who would immediately strengthen the defence and who would have challenged more assertively than Lindelof against De Bruyne, as well as Antony, who could mature into a consistent right-wing threat. Even United fans have lost faith in the injury-prone Anthony Martial. The 20-year-old Amad Diallo, who has enjoyed an impressive loan spell with Sunderland, is certainly worth another look at. But the reality is that Ten Hag’s squad is neither strong enough nor deep enough.
As City head to Istanbul, United are still undeniably heading in the right direction under Ten Hag, who has them back in the Champions League, one trophy, the Carabao Cup, already to his credit and an awareness of enduring problems. Ten Hag sees the flaws in personnel and personality, and possesses the decisiveness to address them, but needs that backing from the board. Wembley was not all bad. Wan-Bissaka’s assured performance confirmed Ten Hag’s influence. The power of United’s fanbase was seen and heard.
One United fan disgraced himself with a shirt mocking the Hillsborough victims. An inflatable aircraft was waved by a City fan, mocking the Munich victims. Such sick individuals need to be called out by fans close by. A campaign to address tragedy chanting and displaying offensive messages is required; most perpetrators are far too young to have witnessed the events. They need educating, and a reminder about the likely impact on their own lives, such as possibly losing their jobs.
Anyway, rant over. Saturday was overall a good day. The 3pm kick-off time worked well (who’d have thought?), the pre-match display, particularly the gospel group singing Abide with Me, was perfectly pitched in every sense, and the best team won. Next stop Istanbul for City, for a shot at the Treble and greatness.
Originally published as Henry Winter: Sense of certainty around Manchester City side on the cusp of greatness
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