The FA Cup winning club beat the League Cup winning club employing an experimental side with consumate ease. Post match reaction to a League Cup 3rd Round formality…
Roberto Mancini:
‘I am very happy for Owen, for Kolo and for the team. Owen is a fantastic player and he can become an important player for us. He can play often. He had no probems tonight. He’s had no problems for the last two weeks. We said that he would have about 60 minutes before the game, and I’m happy for him. It’s important that he becomes again the player that he was, then he will be important to the England team as well.
But we need to be calm. After one game after two years he needs some time to recover. But I hope he’ll be lucky in the future.’
Chris Hughton:
‘I’m very pleased, particularly how we performed in the second half. We grew into the game, we were unlucky not to score…we got better and better as the game went by.
‘We came here wanting to win but knew that would be a big task because of the quality City have got.’
Owen Hargreaves:
‘I knew this day would come again. At times it was a very difficult position to be in, when it’s happening to you. I never would have anticipated the injuries in my worst nightmares. It was a pretty humbling experience. I’ve been training very hard.
‘It’s my first real game action in, I think, three years and four months – which is a bit frightening in itself. [But] I put in a lot of hard work in the summer.
‘I’ve been here three weeks and played two games in six days. We did an in-house game last week. City have done a great job so far, just easing me in and this is an important progression. Football work is more intensive than individual training but whatever these guys think is good going forward. It is important to get back into a team situation on a big pitch. Just getting used to basic things you do in the game.
‘All in all it was a great exercise for me.’
Kolo Toure:
‘I just want to thank the boss for giving me the honour of being the captain tonight. The fans were behind me and I want to thank all the people who have supported me in a really hard time.
‘I’m back doing what I love and I will enjoy it. I’ve been working really hard – I had only one week rest, because for me it was important to come back really strong. It’s been a nice night for me.’
The Etihad Crowd:
‘Fergie, Fergie, sign him up!’
IN THE VMC FORUM:
Bluedub:
‘Super Cup Champions!’
StuMCFC:
‘Hargreaves was fantastic. Intelligent, determined, and scored a terrific goal to boot…The game itself wasn’t very entertaining as it was ridiculously easy and after half-time we didn’t really go for the throat as Birmingham were providing no threat. Instead, City fans had a long back and forth banter session with the Birmingham fans and one chubby gentleman in particular.’
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times GMT+1
Sa 24 Sep 12:45 Everton, The Etihad, PL
Tu 27 September 19:45 Bayern Munich, Allianz Arena,
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