Skoorb on the Spot - City 1 PSG 0 (3-2 Agg)

Skoorb

Skoorb

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Kevin De Bruyne underlined his quality with a match winning goal which sent City through to the semi final of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. His top quality finish from the edge of the penalty area ensured that City finished the tie on aggregate with no need to rely solely on the two away goals they secured in Paris a week ago. Coupled with two crucial saves by Joe Hart from Ibrahimovic free kicks, heroic running and challenging from the midfield duo of Fernando and Fernandinho, the ceaseless work ethic again from Sergio Aguero and magnificent contributions from the much maligned defensive unit....the list could go on. All of the players contributed to this magnificent result and they will sleep well tonight. City did what they needed do despite the almost relentless complaints from the commentators on BT Sport about how poor their opponents were. You can only play what is put in front of you and Pellegrini needs to be lauded for getting his selection and tactics correct and the players likewise for their excellent game management. Conceding 64% possession at home and mustering a single shot on target City seemed to finally display the nous needed to succeed in Europe. Blues fans hearts were in their mouths when Mr Reliable, City legend Sergio Aguero, placed his spot kick wide of Trapp's left hand post after the keeper had brought the striker down in the first half. The uncharacteristic miss however did not put Aguero off his stride, neither did he let the endless cycle of late cynical fouls from the PSG players cause him to lose focus. He and his team mates delivered a mature european football performance tonight and relayed some of the faith that the owners have placed in their selection of manager. They have made their choice regarding who will lead the club next season but their current coach deserve huge credit for delivering the progress in this elite competition that the owners demanded. Doubtless the relentless stream of anti-City hacks will be out in force as they try to play down the significance of this result and the arrival of the club in the semi final of Europe's top football competition. This victory should be celebrated but I will expect the same patronising attitudes to emerge from the usual suspects as their chances of getting any further in the competition are dismissed. But City fans will be used to that and will pay it little heed - they have enjoyed an outstanding night in the club's history and will go to sleep to night with a broad grin on their faces. Manchester City are in the semi finals of the Champions League. Enough said.

Match stats

http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/stats.asp?a=564948
 
Well said Skoorb.

Hat's off to Pellegrini.

Serial shit talker Eamonn Dunphy had this to say on RTE when PSG beat Chelsea

“If they play City, they’ll kill them. They’ll kill them,”

I see Eamo the odd morning outside work, I'll be sure to remind him should I see him.

Had the pleasure of listening to Neil Lennon tonight and big Richie Dunne in the studio, first time I've enjoyed the sideshow in a long time.
 
Excellent Skoorb, you said exactly as it is. I note that our complaints about the ex rag worked and he begrudgingly praised City whilst taking it off with the other hand saying PSG were poor, but City made them look poor concentrating in the tackle and harrassing PSG.

The fact that PSG were favoutites for both games, nobody mentioned that to the bookies about PSG only having decent opposition when they play in the Champions league.

City have saved England and ensured they get a fourth spot with the semi final berth.

' The much maligned City defence', lost count the number of times the BTSport so called commentator reminded us that City always concede and have never kept a clean sheet in a Champions League game, did he not commentate on the 0-0 Kiev game?

He told us more than once that if Paris scored a goal it would 'change the dynamic of the game' as if we had not heard him the first time.

The ex rag was correct about the crowd, I have been to games when we have been more nervous than the players and it is only when we scored that we actually believed that a semi spot could happen.

I thought Hart was top class, as was Aguero who ran his socks off, and I for one can forgive him the penalty miss, as he will always be a hero at this Club.

F6 & F25 getting better when they concentrate and as Bluedub pointed out in another thread F6 with some neat footwork, now that is a sign of confidence.

DS21 I love him he wears the shirt and is a blue.

NO & EM bound to make mistakes in the game but I love the hoof up field when in doubt. ZI had two legitimate shots on target, but for the rest of the night, someone had him in their back pocket.

Just had to look and see if DiMaria the mouthy ex failed rag had been subbed at HT, seems that he was hiding in someone back pocket as well.

Sagna, Clichy and Navas well done.

As for Kevin 'IF ONLY'

A fine team effort all round.
 
^Make sure you've got your City shirt on when you see him, Dub.

He may only have played once for the first team, and you can count on the Dunny Monster, but I hope Lennon gave us a good call.
 
Terrific all round performance - particularly the defence where Mangala and Otamendi stood firm - and also Clichy at left back, showing why AK13 has been restricted to appearances from the berti.

Now onto Chelsea at the weekend, we need 4th place - or even 3rd sewn up a.s.a.p.

 
Spot on, Skoorb, with your observations. I had to mute camelgob and co. It will be interesting to read the papers this morning and I'll bet most of it will be grudging at best and dismissive at worst.

 
Fernandinho, many folks man of the match and pushing KDB for Player of the Season:-

“We were very clever and intelligent tonight. I don’t think they created any chances to score a goal in the first half. They scored two in the second half but both were offside.

“We did a very good job, especially defending their attacks. Towards the end of the game, they was more space for our attackers and that’s when we scored a goal and we’re now in the semi-finals.

“We kept our focus throughout and continued to try and win the game. We put in a good performance and I think everyone played really well tonight. I’m very happy for all of us.

“It’s been tough for us as we’ve had so many players injured - sometimes we’ve had to play the same players a lot of times in a month.”
 
Manuel Pellegrini: -

"It’s a very great achievement for the club - not only to reach the semi-final and be one of the best four teams in Europe but also to have done so with our style of play.

"A lot of people thought that we would try for a draw here but from the beginning, we thought and played as a big team and I am very happy to continue with our style.

"It’s very important to be in the semi-final because it was my job to go further in the competition. This year, the team has improved by winning the group then playing very good performances against Dynamo and a very strong Paris Saint-Germain.

"We can be the best team in Europe. It’s not easy because there are many strong teams in Europe but the target of this club is to win the Champions League.

"I know that we receive a lot of criticism but we are improving every year so this is the most important thing.

"If you are in the semi-final, you have to play one of the big teams of Europe but if we play the way we played against PSG, then we can have a lot of trust against any team."
 
On the BT Sport commentary.......

There was a huge over-emphasis constantly on how poor PSG were without any reference to how well City played the tie. The players managed that game as well as any I have seen them play in Europe - containing strikers of the quality of Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Di Maria deserved greater credit than they were afforded - maybe PSG were poor because we made them look so but that thought didn't seem to cross there mind. Oh and as for Steve McPointalot banging on about how the atmosphere should be moralise that experienced in Turkey? Are you serious? If ever the atmosphere at the Etihad was as toxic, rabid, poisonous and threatening as that I would never set foot inside the place. What a load of twaddle. The crowd at the Etihad were treading as much fresh ground as the players - we have not, thank goodness, developed the arrogance of the rags or dippers who expect to win and nervousness on the terraces was not a surprise.

I am most pleased about the fact that Sergio will not be haunted by his penalty miss and that we will not face the "City only went through on away goals"

Oh and to finish.....did you note how quickly big mouth super ego Zlatan Ibrahimovic vanished down the tunnel at the end of the game? Displaying all of the grace and dignity of a bitter, sore loser. On your bike Zlatan.
 
Nice. :026: Might have to buy some of those and get ready to eat humble pie if they give credit where it is due
 
Skoorb - 13/4/2016 07:33

On the BT Sport commentary.......

There was a huge over-emphasis constantly on how poor PSG were without any reference to how well City played the tie. The players managed that game as well as any I have seen them play in Europe - containing strikers of the quality of Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Di Maria deserved greater credit than they were afforded - maybe PSG were poor because we made them look so but that thought didn't seem to cross there mind. Oh and as for Steve McPointalot banging on about how the atmosphere should be moralise that experienced in Turkey? Are you serious? If ever the atmosphere at the Etihad was as toxic, rabid, poisonous and threatening as that I would never set foot inside the place. What a load of twaddle. The crowd at the Etihad were treading as much fresh ground as the players - we have not, thank goodness, developed the arrogance of the rags or dippers who expect to win and nervousness on the terraces was not a surprise.

I am most pleased about the fact that Sergio will not be haunted by his penalty miss and that we will not face the "City only went through on away goals"

Oh and to finish.....did you note how quickly big mouth super ego Zlatan Ibrahimovic vanished down the tunnel at the end of the game? Displaying all of the grace and dignity of a bitter, sore loser. On your bike Zlatan.
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Skoorb I hope you managed to watch ITV highlights, a complete contrast to BT Sport.

Roy Kean an ex rag, but as unbiased as they come as says it as he sees it, and Lee Dixon, although a Gooner he is a blue fan but that's what you want when the only team that is left in the competition should get some backing.

BT Sport need to take note and try and be a bit biased on occasions like this, I just can't help feeling that had this been the rags they would have been heaping praise on the team. Paranoid you bet I am
 
The coverage I got to see here eventually , had commentary by Tyler, you can imagine the huge disappointment in his voice ;-)
 
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