City head into the final three games of the season safe in the knowledge that only the rags from ‘The Big Sky Four’ have beaten The Blues in this campaign…
That’s progress indeed considering the pastings Chelsea, united, Liverpool and Arsenal have repeatedly dished out to City since promotion to the Premier League in 2002.
Here’s how the rival managers saw yesterday’s turgid draw…
Roberto Mancini:
The suave City boss remains resolute in his Italian containment tactics and step by step, game by game approach to this mini-season…
‘It was a difficult game but in the end a
draw was the right result. They played better than us in the first half – they had more possession – but in the second half we played better.
‘We wanted to win, but we had a problem with Manu against United so for this game he started on the bench. If not, we would have started with Manu and Carlos. If you can’t win, then a draw is OK.
‘Man United v Tottenham was a good result for us, and we are very close. We have three games – if we win them, then it is finished. But before anything else we must think about Villa.’
The Blues boss also discussed with City’s Official Website Seamus Given’s nasty looking shoulder injury that was sustained during a trademark excellent save…
‘Shay’s injury will be a problem. It’s not good for us because Shay is a fantastic goalkeeper. He is important to us, but in football you can always get injured.
‘Shay is in hospital, but we have ten days and must play three big games. Gunnar came on and did very well.’
Arsene Wenger:
The shrewd Arsenal gaffer was in philosophical mood at the end of the game but also voiced his disappointment at The Arsenal fans renewed goading of Emmanuel Adeabyor that only served to match their side’s lack of focus…
‘What can I do about that? I said before the game that I want everybody to be respected so you know clearly what I think.
‘He was focused and motivated and sharp and he won some longer balls and that’s why suddenly it was a bit livelier. But even then they didn’t commit a lot. They played a lot on the counter-attack and when you can break counter-attacks up there is not a lot of trouble. We created very few chances and Manchester City didn’t create anything. They were highly focused on defending well and we could not find the opener. And, as long as we couldn’t do that, it was a locked game.’
The Gunners boss then chipped in with how he thinks the race for fourth place and Champions League qualification will develop…
‘That’s very difficult to predict. You would expect the two teams winning their next game and then it will be Man City v Tottenham that will be the decider. Man City has a little home advantage but it will be interesting until the end.’
VMC City Video Link: Mancio At The Emirates Post Match
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