It was Tottenham Hotspur's Peter Crouch that, again, settled the race for fourth place. An own goal may have proven enough for Manchester City to qualify for next year's Champions League and, with the 'top four' monopoly again broken for the second year running, it looks as though the money pumped into the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group is beginning to show dividends.
Since the group took over in 2008, Champions League qualification has been the original goal in the plan of City domination. Mark Hughes failed to take the club to the promised land while in the eighteen months that Roberto Mancini has been in charge of City, an FA Cup final and a top four finish have both been secured. Millions has been spent on stars such as Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, David Silva and the Toure brothers and while finishing, at least, fourth this season is guaranteed, perhaps City should have been challenging for the title rather than accepting a top four finish as satisfactory.
At lot of this is down to the style of play by Mancini. opting for a 4-3-3 formation, with two holding midfielders allowing one to support the attack, the Italian has bought in a style of play that may be suited for Serie A of Italy but has been frowned upon by pundits and fans as the season has drawn on. Granted, the one game where they altered their style of play and switched to a 4-4-2, City were completed dominated from start to finish in the 3-0 defeat at the hands of a resurgent Liverpool.
However, with fans expecting fast-paced action especially in today's modern game, Mancini has had his fair share of critics. Credit where credit is due though, his first full season in charge has seen his side reach the top four and, after agonisingly coming so close last year, one could only imagination how well they could have done had the Italian been in charge from the beginning of the season. He has dealt with the pressure of City boss exceptionally despite rumours he would be sacked at the end of the season fourth place or not.
Yet, with the owner’s ambition now likely to rise, it remains to be seen whether he will stay at City beyond this season especially with reports linking the club with a move for Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas. You only have to compare the success of Chelsea when Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich took over the club back in 2003.
With Claudio Ranieri in charge of the club at the time of Abramovich's takeover, the Russian barked out one simple order; win the Premier League. Chelsea finished second that year and Ranieri was off to be replaced by Jose Mourinho who won the trophy is his first season. His ambition has since risen and Abramovich now wants to add the Champions League to the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet.
With the owner's aspiration changing regularly, a title push from City is likely to be next on the agenda for the Abu Dhabi United Group. When Ranieri couldn't deliver what the owner wanted, he was shipped out for a better manager and, if Mancini can't win the title next season, the same fate must await him especially with the vast sums of money already spent on improving the squad.
It is also this money that could prove to be the club's downfall. The financial fair play rules are set to come into effect from June this year and, out of the current top five teams in England, only Arsenal can claim to at least break even every season. It is a three year transitional period that will see sides curbing their spending starting from next month with clubs expected to break even as early as this time next year.
The idea comes from current UEFA President Michel Platini who is eager to level the playing field for the 660 top divisions across 53 separate European countries. Where owners had to take out massive loans to help fund the purchases of their current clubs, an astronomical level of debt has been racked up which Platini is very concerned about. For the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and City, it could be a very difficult period in their history if they are to comply by the rules set out before them.
Nonetheless, City must push on from their current success regardless of the new rules if they are to compete at the highest level every season from now.
Right, I have got to go and get ready to go to Wembley. Got myself a ticket for today.
Enjoy the weekend.
Laters,
Macca
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