Football News

City display lack of ambition

City display lack of ambition


For all the noises that have emerged from the blue half of Manchester over the last year or so, there have been some who have refused to believe the hype surrounding City, instead viewing the Eastlands outfit's bark as far worse than its bite. City players and the club's manager Roberto Mancini have done all they can to deny these claims, citing their desire for Champions League football and to become a dominant force in English football over the next five or ten years but ultimately a team does its talking on the pitch, and this week's game against Manchester United spoke volumes.

For a team with such apparent ambition and passion, where was the attacking intent? Where was the desire to win at all costs and prove that a result against a famous old side like United is now expected around Eastlands? It was nowhere to be seen, with City sitting back behind the ball for the majority of the game and inviting their opponents to mount attack after attack. The way Mancini laid out his side to play for the 90 minutes on home turf seemed to say "we know you can play better than us when it comes down to it, so we just have to make sure we can stop you".



The problem wasn't in the result, a point against United is a decent result for any side, but in the manner in which Mancini greeted it. for a side with title ambitions drawing against United should be no cause for smugness, but Mancini looked like the cat who got the cream after stifling Fergie's men. Despite the distinct lack of celebration from the City fans, the manager was intent on taking the positives from a game that cast severe doubts over his tactical nous, with Yaya Toure employed in a particularly bizarre manner.



A point was not a good result for either side, with both Chelsea and Arsenal picking up crucial wins, but it will be Sir Alex who feels happier after seeing City prove to the world that although they may talk the talk, when it comes to it they still live in fear under the red shadow of Old Trafford.