Manchester City fans in the Transfer Tavern have been treated to some strong performances by their team of late, but that has failed to mask the fact that they are currently eight points off the pace from leaders Chelsea in this season’s Premier League.
Pep Guardiola has experienced an indifferent first season in English football with the winter period proving to be a different kettle of fish for the manager that was perceived as a genius before taking the reigns at the Etihad.
Our landlord expects Guardiola and Manchester City to respond to their critics next season especially if the Citizens’ oil rich owners flex their muscles and let him secure his preferred targets.
Before then, City have the end of the season to worry about and although it seems to be an uphill battle from here, many of our Citizens in the Transfer Tavern are feeling a little bit optimistic based on their recent form.
Could there be a very late surge for the title from City, then? Here are five fixtures our landlord reckons could decide if that’s the case in the remainder of this campaign…
Manchester United (H) (Date TBC)
With the Manchester derby put on hold due to United’s commitment to the EFL Cup final, this game could have even higher stakes by the time it comes around later on in the season.
The game will be hotly contested with United looking to avenge a 2-1 loss earlier in the season but it should also be remembered that United knocked City out of the EFL cup. It will also be noted that Guardiola and Mourinho hold a fierce rivalry between them and no matter the time and date of this game, our landlord expects this to be a match of the highest magnitude.
With just four points behind these two sides currently, both sets of fans are currently talking the talk in the Transfer Tavern. The question is, who will walk the walk when this game comes around?
Liverpool (H) 19/03/17
Liverpool’s trip to the Etihad sparks off a run of three tough games for the Citizens and our landlord believes that how City perform here will set the tone for these games and further towards the end of the season.
There seems to be nothing between 2nd and 6th place this season and losing to a rival in these positions could be detrimental to any Champions League aspirations, let alone title hopes. Saying that, our resident City fans are confident about welcoming Liverpool to their place – especially when it’s considered that this Liverpool side has conceded the most goals in the top six this season. Our landlord believes that Guardiola will look to expose this fact in order to gain a positive result.
Arsenal (A) 01/04/17
A trip to the Emirates is the second difficult game straight City will endure following the welcoming of Liverpool to the Etihad.
The Gunners have been indifferent this season against the sides around them and our landlord believes that this could fall right in to Guardiola’s master plan as he looks to maintain a title bid. With that said, this Arsenal side are never one to be taken lightly and with all the attacking talent at their disposal the Citizens’ defence may have to hold strong at times. That’s something they have been guilty of lacking at certain points this season, though.
Chelsea (A) 05/04/17
When City welcomed Chelsea to the Etihad earlier on in the season, the game produced repercussions that our landlord believes to have been detrimental to the Citizens’ season.
With both Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero seeing red and receiving lengthy bans as well as losing the game to their title rivals, the fixture is still something that leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of our resident City fans in the Transfer Tavern.
Simply put, City must beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in order to keep any slim chances of winning the Premier League alive. Anything less and it may all but seal the deal for Antonio Conte’s men.
Leicester City (H) 13/05/17
Maybe a strange choice from our landlord but our City fans in the Transfer Tavern are still hurt from what Jamie Vardy inflicted on them earlier on in the season as Leicester ran out 4-2 winners at the King Power Stadium.
The Citizens meet the Foxes in the second to last game of the season and although they will want to right the wrongs of that Saturday evening in Leicester, they will come up against a Foxes side potentially scrapping for their lives in a relegation battle. These types of games can result in big upsets, especially when teams are plotting escapes from relegation and if City are to maintain a title challenge deep into the season, this game is one that they will have to be on the top of their game for.
Thoughts, City fans? Can you still win it? Let us know below!
