The big price for success
If at all there were any doubts that we are now into the business end of the European football season, last weekend must have helped put the situation into some perspective. In England, one trophy is already gone following Manchester City’s remarkable comeback after deservedly going into half-time a goal down against a lively and determined Sunderland side at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
With the Capital One Cup in the bag, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are well on course for their unprecedented quest for a quadruple and this weekend they have the chance to move closer to another trophy when they meet Wigan Athletic — their conquerors in last season’s final — in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadiumtomorrow evening. The obvious subplot there should be the pursuit for revenge.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Citizens in their chase for that quadruple will come on Wednesday night when they try to overturn a first-leg 0-2 home defeat in the Uefa Champions League round of 16 at the hands of Barcelona in the Nou Camp. There is no doubt that this will be their biggest and toughest match of the season and getting the desired result would rank among the club’s biggest achievements ever.
The price for all this success so far is that City are accumulating games and losing ground on the Barclays Premier League race. They are already two games behind their opponents for the title and this weekend that will become three in relation to leaders Chelsea who play host to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in this afternoon’s late kickoff. Playing catch-up will put pressure on them, especially in such a tight race.
Of course, City’s fate is in their hands. If they win all their games in hand they will be on top of the table, but the team will have too many games to play in a short time and even with a team of their depth, there is always a danger of overstretching the squad, especially where injuries creep in. You would, therefore, prefer to be in Chelsea’s position to have points in the bag and not games in hand.
With second-placed Liverpool on bye and the Arsenal hosting Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Jose Mourinho’s men have the chance to open a seven-point gap at the top of the table with only nine games to go. They should fancy their chances given that they have not lost to Spurs at home for a long time. For Tim Sherwood and his charges, this is a must-win game if they are to keep their hopes for a top-four finish alive.
The FA Cup represents Arsenal’s most realistic chance of ending their nine-year wait for a trophy after last week’s defeat to Stoke City at the dreaded Britannia Stadium set them back in their fight for the league title. The loss was by no means fatal, but there is a growing sense of resignation within the Arsenal ranks that the title push is fizzling out, especially given the many crucial matches lined up this month.
Although I don’t normally discuss domestic football, I would normally say something when something as big as an international game involving the Flames takes place, but you would understand me if I chose to pass the opportunity to proffer a comment. I am going to look for a positive spin and that is to say it was important that FAM was able to secure a game on a designated day for internationals. Enough on that.
