Manchester City 1 - 0 Leicester - JOTS, Stats Link & Post Match Reax | Vital Football

Manchester City 1 - 0 Leicester - JOTS, Stats Link & Post Match Reax

Johnny Baguette

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CAPTAIN FANTASTIC KOMPANY BLASTS CITY TOWARD TITLE NIRVANA

Johnny On The Spot: #OURLEADER. Honorary Mancunian Vincent Kompany, the undoubted Maine Man of Manchester City has put his club with in touching distance of securing an epic title win…

City piled the overloads on to Leicester from the kick off but were rapidly repelled to the extent that Leicester asserted themselves rapidly. They denied the Blues any rhythm or space and made life very difficult for the reigning champions throughout a testing first half. Clearly Brendan Rodgers had done his homework. They marked and policed spaces with absolute discipline. City’s frustration was palpable and embodied in David Silva dishing out some tough challenges. Nervy City were made to suffer down their defensive left, Zinchenko forced into committing too easily repeatedly.

Bernardo lifted the crowd on the half hour raising the decibels with some super play. The Blues registered a blitz of corners which resorted in a struck crossbar, Schmeichel clawing off the line an Aguero header. The Blues fired in shots and more corners, but could not find the cutting edge required. Tension and anxiety was rife, it was clear that City needed to score with increasing urgency. Vincent Kompany, unlucky to be booked for a strong tackle, was vocal in ordering his side to calm down. The sides went in at half time goalless, the game firmly entrenched in could go either way territory. Referee Dean was offering up nothing to the home side. Destiny still in their own hands, they would have to move the ball much quicker to break down a Leicester side playing with freedom.

The second half opened up in a similar pattern. Roared on by the faithful, City continued to plug away but continued to snatch at their opportunities. Approaching the hour mark City began to raise the tempo. Sané and his artillery entered the fray for Foden who had strived without success. City were finding their stride and Leicester were pushed into defending deep. City began to bang at the door with increasing venom. Leicester were under siege. It was all City, Dean continuing to favour the Foxes who were looking increasingly fatigued but found their feet yet again to crippling City frustration.

Despite carrying lorryloads of experience, City were self evidently feeling the pressure of this unrelenting title battle and an incredible effort across four fronts into April. The Blues were compelled to try to force the ball into impossible areas. Leicester had begun to find a second wind.

Enter the captain. Out of the frustration, on the 70th minute, Vincent Kompany unleashed a net busting howitzer from 30 yards to blast the Blues ahead. The Etihad erupted and rose as one to salute the man who has so often dragged his men over the line whilst in recent campaigns battling over and over again to come back from career threatening injuries. It was our 100th goal at home this season. An extraordinary feet never done before in the history of this wonderful football club. The atmosphere was electric. Considering the context, the strike was all the more remarkable.

Despite continuing to look tired, Leicester continued to set traps and Rodgers threw more attackers at the situation while City continued to threaten, piling on the corners. A relentless nip and tuck but a much more superior second half performance from Guardiola’s men had given them the edge. Incredibly, Leicester now had five men up front. The message from Pep was clear. City, looking once again the fitter side, MUST keep the ball.

And so it came to pass. Brighton faces an invasion this weekend whilst a legion of utterly crestfallen Liverpool backing hacks, commentators, pundits and shattered fans wonder at what tenuous links they can now attempt to forge with the Seagulls.

Hats off to Leicester. I think they were the best set up side we’ve seen in the Premier League at the Etihad this season. Three up top, spreading the play at every opportunity they went toe to toe with Pep Guardiola’s men, who ultimately delivered another mid-game resurgence worthy of champions.

One more push, Planet Blue.

JB’s Man of The Match: Vincent Kompany. Cometh the hour, cometh the skipper.c213bdfb-2c24-4d30-87cf-8a5cd5e2f64d.jpg
 
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Vincent is genuinely emotional...........has his contract been sorted?

Talk about the big players stepping up. What a role model he is.
 
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel: "We worked really hard, but our legs were heavy and we shouldn’t give Vincent Kompany time on the edge of the box like that.

"City are a top class side, and we have lost to the potential champions. I can’t see them losing their next game."
 
Pep Guardiola to BBC Sport: "An extraordinary goal, definitely. We played incredibly, I expected Leicester to be more offensive than in their last games, but they defend so deep. It was a more than decent first half but an outstanding second half knowing what we were playing for. I am sorry for many people, but still we are there.

"Kompany has been here more than 10 years and he has helped with an incredible generation of players like Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, create with other players like Hart and Zabaleta, they create this club. Vincent when he stepped forward in the big moments when he is fit is an incredible player."