Not for the first time, Manchester City managed to deliver a flat performance just when ultimate energy and determination were needed. This can happen to fans when you have become habitual champions, they are still hungry as a club but are they as hungry as Arsenal or indeed Aston Villa? There is a six-point gap again, and of the many things that could deliver new champions other than Manchester City or Liverpool for the first time in nine long years, it is that raw, desperate desire.
Not for the first time, Manchester City managed to deliver a flat performance just when ultimate energy and determination were needed.
It is their style to meticulously control the ball, the tempo and thus the opposition, but by the final whistle no one was surprised that Chelsea had equalised to deny them two valuable points.
The fans seemed lulled into a daze as all the excitement was sucked out of the stadium by the performance and the style, there was so little dynamism.
This can happen to fans when you have become habitual champions, they are still hungry as a club but are they as hungry as Arsenal or indeed Aston Villa?
There are reasons. Every team will have a dip and Rodri is just back in the team trying hard to discover his previously influential levels, but that will take time.
There is a six-point gap again, and of the many things that could deliver new champions other than Manchester City or Liverpool for the first time in nine long years, it is that raw, desperate desire.
This is the desire that fans ache to see, want to share and need to create at Etihad Stadium this season.
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Category: General Sports