Manchester City star in Mission impossible 2: The sequel
The 2011-2012 Premier league season had one of the most thrilling climaxes to a league campaign in the 20 year history of the Premier League. Manchester City snatched the title out of their neighbours and fierce rivals Manchester United’s grasp with virtually the last kick of the season.
As Aguero buried his last minute strike against QPR in injury time on the 13th May last year one half of Manchester erupted in jubilation and elation whilst the other half sulked and looked back on a campaign full of what ifs.
Last year at this point Manchester United began a run of 6 wins in a row which saw them take a commanding 8 point lead over their ‘noisy neighbours’ City who faltered throughout March with a loss and two draws. This left them with a mountain to climb to win the title but somehow they managed it and were crowned league champions for the first time in 44 years.
This year however as City look to go for back-to-back titles they are already way out of the race at this point giving away a massive 12 point deficit to United. Manchester United have looked imperious grinding out results despite not playing well and looking every bit the nailed on champions whilst Manchester City have looked a bit shaky coming into the new year drawing twice to QPR and Liverpool respectively and suffering a shock loss to Southampton on the 9th February.
Following a lengthy break from the league for international fixtures and their FA cup victory over Leeds, City looked to be back to their best with a very impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea. Now at this point it may be crazy to be saying City could do it again as they lie 12 points behind United, this time round it’s going to take a monumental effort for them to close the gap.
Manchester United look to have the confidence and a determination to keep the title firmly in their grips this year but with the distraction of a potential Champions League run ahead of them if they can get past Real Madrid all it would take would be a couple of stuttering results from them and they would be feeling the pressure.
In terms of the run in to the end of the season neither team has a particularly easy run but the key dates are the Manchester derby on the 6th April which was the fixture where City evened up the race last year, as well as that though United play Arsenal away and Chelsea at home consecutively at the end of April which could be potential banana skins. City’s most difficult game other than the derby is in the form of Tottenham away on the 21st April.
This year the title race looks a formality but if last year taught us anything it’s never write Manchester City off in the most exciting league in the world as anything could happen between now and May the 19th. .Last Year City completed what seemed like the impossible on the final day of the season but I’m not sure how many people could cope if history repeated itself this time round.
Come the end of the season who knows what will happen but the question is will the sun set red on the title for the 20th time or will the blue moon be able to rise once again.
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