http://www.espnfc.com/club/manchester-city/382/blog/post/2050530/manchester-cityPosted by Simon Curtis
After a difficult three-match spell, what have we learned about Man City?
A little over a week ago, Manchester City were gearing themselves up for a testing three-fixture run which we were told would give us reasonable insight into what to expect from the champions this season.
Arsenal away, Bayern away and Chelsea at home. After this little lot, it would become apparent whether we were looking at true title challengers and Champions League contenders or another season of unfulfilled dreams, mirroring Roberto Mancini's final season in charge at the Etihad.
We are now the other side of those tricky fixtures, two of which were drawn, the other lost. On immediate viewing that does not bode well but there are plenty of reasons why the past eight days could be the process of laying foundations for a very good season. So, what have we learned?
Team spirit
Having gone 2-1 down after taking the lead against Arsenal, City spent the final 10 minutes foraging forward to great effect. An equaliser, two shots on to the post and a goal disallowed pointed to a team high in energy, will power and never-say-die spirit.
This theme was maintained against Bayern Munich, one of the continent's most difficult places to visit. City were beaten only by a deflected goal in the 90th minute. Although Bayern were at times tepid and timid, to be so close to gaining a good point in Bavaria was not the disaster some people made it out to be.
Perhaps the strongest pointer so far came in the 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea, though. City gave Jose Mourinho's men a good battering but referee Mike Dean then decided it was time to take centre stage. It has been said time and time again that the best referees are the ones that leave you asking at the game's end: "Who was the ref today?" Sadly, few of today's officials leave us spectators in any doubt.
Having been reduced to 10 men before Chelsea took the lead, City could have been forgiven for thinking their luck was out. Back they came with another stirring response to a setback, equalising through Frank Lampard (the football gods do have a sense of humour after all) and finishing the stronger against a Chelsea side clearly quite happy to leave with a point.
Frank Lampard rescued a point for City against Chelsea, the team who made him a Premier League legend.
A new defence
Chopping and changing, as it used to be called, is the modern day squad rotation. Amazingly, for two such important games, only Vincent Kompany of City's defenders survived from the Bayern game to play against Chelsea. That's three changes to a four-man back line.
However, one of those changes may just be viewed as a seminal moment in the club's season, that sets up this City side for an eight-month period chasing pots and trophies on various fronts. Eliaquim Mangala's debut against Chelsea was possibly the best seen in a City shirt since Trevor Francis hit two on his debut vs. Stoke in 1981. Assured and strong, quick in the tackle and fast in ball transition, the young Frenchman, 23, excelled.
His partnership with the hugely impressive Kompany could blossom into the strongest centre-back pairing in the Premier League and perhaps beyond. Both command their zone, bully their opponents and are extremely comfortable in possession.
No damage done
An opening day defeat in the Champions League is obviously not what the doctor ordered, but that is City's trickiest game out of the way. With Roma starting well, it remains to be seen whether UEFA's oddly unbalanced seeding process has yet again served City an impossible package, but as it stands, it will come down to what City can do in two matches against Roma and at home to Bayern.
In the Premier League, the gap to Chelsea remains five points. All teams have played five games. It does not need the combined brain power of Pythagoras, Archimedes and Robbie Savage to know that such a space can disappear in a matter of days. Lest we forget, there are eight months of football still to be played.
So, far from limping after these tough fixtures, it may just be that City's seemingly measly haul is a pointer towards the positive. Team spirit, growing cohesion among the newcomers, the faithful support of a crowd who can see the bigger picture and a manager who still looks very much like the real deal.
With Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton occupying 11th, 12th and 14th places respectively (and United absent from Europe entirely and already out of the League Cup), there are a few ripe candidates around.
For City, these past few days have shown them to be fit for purpose in the league and in with a chance in Europe. At this stage of proceedings, that will suffice.
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