The five game mini season at Eastlands has ended, registering four City wins and a draw and the club still active on three fronts. Reaction to the scrappy Wigan triumph…
Roberto Mancini:
The City boss was clearly relieved at the top four breathing space that the turgid win over Wigan afforded his squad.
‘In the first half we played well and had three or four chances. The second half was very hard. We were very tired. The difficulty was that the players played three days ago…It was important that we won the game after we lost two points against Fulham…But when you have only 14 or 15 players fit it is very difficult.
‘We have five days before the Kyiv game. The problem is that we are playing every three or four days. We go to Kyiv and play, fly back in the night, it is very difficult. But this is how it is for a top team.
‘The players want to win every game, but sometimes it’s not possible. We haven’t the players available. But the situation is good because we have two cup games now that it’s important to get a good result in.’
Roberto Martinez:
Wigan’s proud boss reckons his team are ace.
‘Today we were fantastic, in a very difficult game we were the better side in every single department, for that the players deserve a lot of credit.
‘Big decisions again today went against us. I felt the challenge from Richards on Tom Cleverley was a straight red card, but those decisions you cannot control.
‘We controlled the tempo of the whole game and that was probably the most pleasing aspect. We had more corners than the home side, more possession, better possession, better chances. I can guarantee you, I have seen Manchester City in a lot of games this season at home and I’ve not seen an away team with an arrogance on the ball, that composure and taking control of the whole game.’
Gareth Barry:
‘I think there were signs there in the second half that the amount of games we have played in a short space of time may have just caught us out…we’re delighted with the three points though, that’s what it’s all about at this stage of the season – it’s massive for us.’
Micah Richards:
‘It’s hard to play so many games in a short space of time, that’s why you need a big squad and that’s what we’re trying to do here. If you want to compete in all the big competitions you need to have a strong squad and today it showed that the boys were a bit leggy…Towards the end you could see Wigan were dominating the game, which is unlike us, but like Gareth said the three points were what we deserved and we’re pleased to get them in the end.’
THE VMCers
never stops
‘I should thank wigan players for poor finishing strikes.The positive is we didn’t play well yet we the won the game.This happens to great teams and we are slowly doing what is required to become a great side.’
Thaibluefan:
‘Should have been out of sight at half time – in the end I’m just happy to take the three points and move on.’
citizhun:
‘..that was hard to watch, but job done.’
Buzz Lightyear:
‘Wigan have only themselves to blame, by poor finishing. City were visibly tired and playing a game every three days is taking it’s toll. In the end Wigan didn’t score and City did and that’s the difference.’
fifth column blue:
‘…Barry got booked for a perfectly good tackle – he got the ball, the Wigan player then ran into him. Tevez got an elbow to the back of the head but no free kick. Yaya got repeatedly fowled, yet only one of them resulted in a card for a Wigan player.
‘Wigan players constantly went down like they’d been shot, and the ref bought it on all but one occasion.
‘How is it a throw when the Wigan player clearly moves his hand to the ball and knocks it out of play?
‘It seems as though every single game at Eastlands we get sweet nothing from the refs, whilst the opposition are allowed to practically murder us.
‘I’m getting highly fed up, and PLEASE don’t call me paranoid – this never used to happen, even against the old top 4 sides – yes they got some decisions, but it really is getting beyond a joke when the likes of Fulham, Wigan etc get 90% of the decisions at our ground.’
JJ Manc Girl:
‘The person with biggest impact on the game? The ref, shocking.’
Bluedub:
‘3 points is three points but that was hard to watch, second half especially. We were guilty of trying to walk it into the net at times first half, just pull the trigger!
…We have to put teams like Wigan to the sword, especially at home. This strolling around the pitch nonsense could have cost us in the end. Over to you Chelsea and Spuds.’
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