The need for proper fixture spacing has been a major headliner in English Football for at least half a decade now, being one of the few countries to have two domestic cup competitions coupled with the hectic winter schedule. While many will argue that the accumulated fixtures are just part of the hazards of chasing glory on multiple fronts, it’s plain for all to see that these fixture clogs have had an adverse effect on English teams over that period. Calls have been made by teams, shareholders and fans for a more lenient timing of fixtures to allow reasonable rest periods between domestic fixtures and European Assignments, especially when you consider the long distance many of these teams have to travel at times. A Clear example of this will be when Chelsea’s F.A Cup and UCL Winning team of 2012 was made to play four fixtures in twelve days across all competitions (Including Spurs, Barcelona And Arsenal).
Gary Cahill smashes home to make it 3-1 on the night
All these pleas have however had zero influence on the Status Quo and it was Manuel Pellegrini’s side who were the latest victims of the unforgiving fixture accumulation. With an European game coming up against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine mid-week and A Capital One Cup final coming up against Liverpool on Sunday, The Chilean had warned of the possibility of fielding a much depleted lineup against Chelsea in the FA Cup. But even at that, hardly anyone was prepared for the kind of line-up Manuel Pellegrini set out to prosecute the game with. Five full debutantes were drafted to the first team with U-17 world cup star and budding Nigerian talent Kelechi Iheanacho leading the attack against a Chelsea backline that had two Centre backs over 30 and an average age of 25.2. As a matter of fact, save for the presence of Alexander Kolarov, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta, the line-up could very well have been one for ‘Manchester City Reserves’ (When you consider William Caballero and Fernando have had next to nothing in terms of game time this season.
All these pleas have however had zero influence on the Status Quo and it was Manuel Pellegrini’s side who were the latest victims of the unforgiving fixture accumulation. With an European game coming up against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine mid-week and A Capital One Cup final coming up against Liverpool on Sunday, The Chilean had warned of the possibility of fielding a much depleted lineup against Chelsea in the FA Cup. But even at that, hardly anyone was prepared for the kind of line-up Manuel Pellegrini set out to prosecute the game with. Five full debutantes were drafted to the first team with U-17 world cup star and budding Nigerian talent Kelechi Iheanacho leading the attack against a Chelsea backline that had two Centre backs over 30 and an average age of 25.2. As a matter of fact, save for the presence of Alexander Kolarov, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta, the line-up could very well have been one for ‘Manchester City Reserves’ (When you consider William Caballero and Fernando have had next to nothing in terms of game time this season.
Chelsea who
played a near full strength squad (Unchanged from last week’s lineup against
PSG) were expected to make light work of Manuel Pellegrini’s young charges and
they did that to the letter even though they allowed themselves some hard work
in the first period. Quick-fire goals in the second half all but put to bed any
expectations or fears of an Upset in that tie.
One of City's debutants Fapaula tackling Cesc Fabregas
One of City's debutants Fapaula tackling Cesc Fabregas
However.
While much has been said about the guts of Manuel Pellegrini and the confidence
(Or arrogance if you like) in approaching a cup clash against Chelsea with such
a depleted line-up, it is necessary to ask if it was indeed the right decision
by the veteran Chilean even with his perceived heavy schedule and the idea of
passing a loud message to the FA. Certainly, Manuel Pellegrini passed a lot of
messages on Sunday but not all of them will be read or interpreted in his
favor.
Firstly, In
view of the recent protests against exorbitant ticket prices in England, it is
common-sense to know that no individual wants to make a trip from Manchester to
London by whatever means of transportation and pay over 50 Pounds just to see
City’s academy get run over by Chelsea. Manuel Pellegrini may very well have
made a strong statement to the FA but has he in doing that sent a wrong message
to The City fans? Personally, if I pay as much as city fans do for a matchday
ticket, the least I’ll want to see is some level of fight and a good game of
football. Besides Pellegrini may very well have overlooked the fact that
Chelsea were fresh from midweek engagements in Paris against the Ligue 1
Champions in Waiting, Paris Saint Germain but still managed to field a full
strength lineup. Pellegrini’s actions may not only have shown contempt for the
F.A and Chelsea (in a way) but he has extended his disrespect either knowingly
or unknowingly to the Fans of Manchester City who spent hard earned money to
watch their team get run over by a Chelsea team who simply were more serious
about the game than their manager.
Hazard makes it 4-1 from a free-kick (Pictures Courtesy: The Independent)
Also, for a club like Manchester City who has spent more than any English Club in the past three Or four Years cumulatively, it is hardly flattering that there is no squad depth to match the over Six hundred Million Euros spent in that period. This season in general has exposed the heavy reliance of city on the performances of Ivorian Midfield Tank, Yaya Toure and Mercurial Forward, Sergio Aguero and with the former wearing rather quickly and less graciously in age and the latter drifting in and out of form coupled with injuries that come almost as quick as his goals, City have looked bare tatters for large periods this season. Save for their early season performances that flattered them a lot and had us thinking they will run away with the league like Chelsea the season before, they have struggled to maintain form this season and Sunday’s game was their third straight defeat, two of those being at home. City currently sit Fourth on the EPL Log ahead of Manchester United and Southampton who on their own have had more than their fair share of calamities all season. One is left to wonder just how deep in trouble city would have been if the likes of United, Chelsea and Liverpool weren’t experiencing troubles of theirs.
City's starting 11 V Chelsea FA Cup Round 5 (Five players from Manchester City reserves made their debuts on the night).
Also, for a club like Manchester City who has spent more than any English Club in the past three Or four Years cumulatively, it is hardly flattering that there is no squad depth to match the over Six hundred Million Euros spent in that period. This season in general has exposed the heavy reliance of city on the performances of Ivorian Midfield Tank, Yaya Toure and Mercurial Forward, Sergio Aguero and with the former wearing rather quickly and less graciously in age and the latter drifting in and out of form coupled with injuries that come almost as quick as his goals, City have looked bare tatters for large periods this season. Save for their early season performances that flattered them a lot and had us thinking they will run away with the league like Chelsea the season before, they have struggled to maintain form this season and Sunday’s game was their third straight defeat, two of those being at home. City currently sit Fourth on the EPL Log ahead of Manchester United and Southampton who on their own have had more than their fair share of calamities all season. One is left to wonder just how deep in trouble city would have been if the likes of United, Chelsea and Liverpool weren’t experiencing troubles of theirs.
City's starting 11 V Chelsea FA Cup Round 5 (Five players from Manchester City reserves made their debuts on the night).
The final
question as to how wise Pellegrini’s decision on Sunday was will be if after
basically surrendering the F.A Cup, city fail to get favorable results against
Dynamo Kiev On Tuesday and Liverpool in the Capital One cup final on Sunday.
Questions will be asked on the penny wise pound foolish approach of Pellegrini
by people who felt he should have at least pushed Chelsea for a replay of that
tie rather than cowardly hand Chelsea next round passage as he did on Sunday.
Certainly, that is what a Jose Mourinho, Alex Ferguson Or Even Arsene Wenger
Would have done in this situation.
For a
manager who knows his tenure at the club is effectively done and dusted,
Pellegrini is likely to lose much love from the city board and supporters but
the manner in which he threw in the towel on Sunday is unlikely to win him much
appraisal from the bulk of football fans Worldwide.
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