Manchester City secured something in the way of silverware on Sunday by edging Liverpool to the Capital One Cup trophy on penalties.
While that ensures Manuel Pellegrini has another cup to his name, it surely won’t outweigh the disappointment of potentially missing out on the Premier League crown for the second year in a row.
Luckily for City, the feel-good factor surrounding Leicester City, as well as imminent arrival of Pep Guardiola are perhaps masking the glaring inefficiencies of their outrageously expensive squad. While that squad, and the expectation around it, is weighing heavily on their shoulders, it could yet their saviour.
Nine points off top spot with ten games to go, the players City boast are one of few groups of stars you can realistically imagine being able to claw such their way back into the mix.
With the core of the infamous 2011/12 season still hugely influential at the Etihad, it’s hard to truly write the Manchester giants off. As much as recent performances tell you to.
Considering all this, here are FIVE fixtures that could make or break Manchester City’s title challenge…
VS LIVERPOOL (AWAY) – 2ND MARCH
Though Liverpool have relatively little left to play for in the Premier League this season, the quick-fire repeat of the League Cup final represents a huge game in City’s season.
Aside from the Wembley win, the club have a very poor record against the Reds in recent seasons. In fact, they were trounced 4-0 by the Merseyside giants earlier this season, truly exposing their fragility.
However, buoyed by Sunday’s win, City can make use of their game in hand and claim revenge over Jurgen Klopp and his men.
Beating a side who have been a thorn in their side twice in the matter of a few days could give this somewhat fragile side a huge mental lift as the games begin to run out.
VS MAN UNITED (HOME) – 20TH MARCH
Pellegrini has a decent enough record in the Manchester derby, winning three of his five so far. The clash at the Etihad will be his last derby in charge of the club, adding extra emotional weight to an already hugely important game.
Realistically, City need to win all of their home games left to have any hope in the slightest of winning a third Premier League title in five season,
While the Red Devils are barely in rampant form, they are sure to pose a huge threat against their nemesis. As they proved recently against Arsenal, they could still have a huge say in the complexion of the title race.
VS CHELSEA (AWAY) – 16TH APRIL
When City romped to a 3-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side at the start of the season, it was difficult to see anyone else winning the title.
So much has changed since that summer day, though the game between two of the biggest sides in the league has lost little importance – despite the Blues’ standing in the league.
Since Guus Hiddink has taken over, the solidity has returned to Stamford Bridge. City’s away day blues have been a huge problem for them all season, undermining their bid to win the title.
The prospect of doing the double over the current champions, however, must be a tantalising notion for City fans and players alike. Especially considering the way they all but surrendered their title to the West London outfit last term.
Chelsea’s 5-1 rout over them in the FA Cup recently is also likely to serve as a timely reminder of just how dangerous the wounded champions can be.
VS ARSENAL (HOME) – 7TH MAY
The penultimate game of the season sees the Etihad host Arsenal, who despite their loss across the road at Old Trafford recently, are still in the title race. Barely, but still in it.
While it’s hard to predict whether either of these two will still be in touching distance of Leicester and Tottenham by then, you get the feeling this game could be of the utmost importance.
The Gunners showed a maturity in their win here last season, proving they could win ‘ugly’. Still, that hasn’t quite proved the turning point many predicted just yet and they are still prone to leaving themselves open.
With Kevin De Bruyne likely to be back by then, City will feel they can send a message to the rest of the top order by exploiting the North London side as the campaign reaches its fever pitch.
Manuel Pellegrini’s last game at the Etihad promises to be a cracker.
VS SWANSEA (AWAY) – 15TH MAY
Due to the unpredictable nature of the season so far, it would be silly to write off the idea that the title race could go down to the last game of the season.
With current table toppers Leicester facing a daunting trip away to Chelsea and Spurs playing a competitive Southampton side, City have a much less testing trip to Swansea.
On paper anyway. The Swans could still be fighting for their lives at the bottom of the division come May, meaning this could be a game of epic implications.
Should they manage to push the title race down to the wire, the game away in South Wales could define just how fondly the Manuel Pellegrini era is looked back upon.
It is also the last game before Pep Guardiola takes over just over a month and a half afterwards. Should the Spaniard revolutionise the club in the way many expect, it could be the last time we see Manchester City as we know them now.
