Opposition View: Manchester City
Manchester City swept everyone before them in the Premier League last season. A record points haul, record number of wins, record number of goals – you name it, they did it.
That must make being a City fan pretty good, especially when for the majority of their fans supporting City used to involve living in the shadows of that other lot from across town, battles against relegation and local derbies with Macclesfield Town at one point.
Ahead of Brighton’s trip to the Etihad Stadium, we spoke to Andy Turner from YouTube channel Man City Fan TV about whether City can come the first team to retain the Premier League for a decade, what they need to do to win the Champions League and which Albion player he’d add to their star studded squad.
Being a Manchester City fan must be pretty bloody brilliant right now. Just how good was last season and what were the highlights?
Yeah, it’s been a brilliant 10 years…seeing us finally have investment into the club and being able to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, United and Liverpool in the transfer market. These clubs were years ahead of us. Last season under Pep was simply incredible. The football played, was some of the best we’ve seen in Premier League history, in world football even. Getting the 100 points and breaking five or six other records was the icing on the cake. I feel very blessed to be a City fan right now.
Winning the Premier League is hard but defending it is even harder. Liverpool look to be going all guns blazing – what do you think the chances of City retaining the title are?
It’s very difficult to retain the Premier League. The fact it’s not been done for 10 years tells you that. Liverpool are flying – but we’re only six games in. It’s very early days yet. Will it be closer? Absolutely, but we have a deeper squad than them and I think that may be the deciding factor come May 2019.
One glaring omission from the roll of honour since your takeover has been European honours. What do City need to do to lift the Champions League and could this be the year you do it?
Luck. I’ve always said it – the Champions League is a cup competition, just like any other, be that the FA Cup, Carabao Cup or any other. You need things to sometimes go well for you, be that a decision by the referee or injuries. Could this be our year? Maybe, maybe not. I’m old school, so the league will always be my priority as a fan. Winning back to back Premier League titles, I believe, is the clubs priority this season. If it happens, it happens – I’d be far more disappointed if we didn’t win the Premier League than not winning the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola has had relatively brief stays at the top at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich before leaving. Does it concern you that he might do the same to City and what happens if he does?
He had four years at Barcelona and three years at Bayern. He’s already signed a contract extension at Man City that takes him to 2021 – that’ll be the longest he’s been at any club as the first team coach or manager…so no, not worried at all. Let’s just hope Txiki Begiristain gets him to sign another extension next year, as he’s the best coach in world football in my opinion.
With so many stars at the Etihad Stadium, it must be hard to pick a most important player. But we’re going to ask you to do it anyway. Who’s City’s most vital individual?
Wow…that is a tough one. Important is different to best, and I guess that can change during the season.
David Silva is the best player I’ve ever seen in a City shirt since my first game in 1977. Kevin De Bruyne was our most important player last season. However, right now, as things stand, I’d say Sergio Aguero for his goals.
It’s going to take an absolute miracle for the Albion to take anything from the Etihad Stadium, but just in case Chris Hughton is reading – what are City’s weaknesses and how can Brighton exploit them?
We’ve been up and down this year so far. We’ve not got anywhere near our level of last season, but against Cardiff, we started to see the City of last season – and that’s without De Bruyne. The one weakness we have displayed this season is complacency, especially in the Lyon game. However, I’ll be very surprised if we see that again after Pep’s comments.
You’ve got to sign one player from Brighton. Who would you pick?
I really like Anthony Knockaert. He’s quick, tricky and can beat a player.
Speaking of signing players, what’s going on with Phil Foden. Will he get a chance in the first team this season and if not, can we have him on loan?
He played against Oxford in midweek and had a wonderful game, an assist and a great goal. What’s going on? Nothing really. He turned 18 in May, he’s a baby and the media have blown everything out of proportion with him. He’s got an exceptional future ahead of him, but when the times right, he’ll get games under Pep. He’ll get plenty of games this season, cup games on the whole or sub appearances to learn his trade. Just think, we have Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Sane, Sterling, Mahrez and De Bruyne when he gets back in a few weeks time. Who’s place does he take?
Brighton and City haven’t faced each other many times over the past 30 years, but do you have any particular memories of games against the Albion? We will take this opportunity to remind you of when we somehow knocked you out of the Carling Cup at Withdean in 2008.
I’d have to say last seasons home game when we beat you 3-1 in May. We’d only just set up Man City Fan TV, so it was one of the first games where we actually interviewed fans outside the stadium.
Finally, a prediction for Saturday
Man City 3-0 Brighton.
Thanks to Andy for speaking to us before the game. We returned the favour by being interviewed for Man City Fan TV, which you can see over on their YouTube page.
