I watched that semi-final against Madrid. Small comfort, I'm sure, but I thought you were unlucky to lose it. On the balance of both legs you were the better team, but once they scored their first goal in the second leg, they had all the momentum and the belief.
When Jack came on in that match, I saw glimpses of what he'd been for Villa, and I know I'm biased but I thought he looked loads better for it. Every time I've seen anything of him playing this season, he's seemed meek and scared and careful, which really isn't the Jack I know.
Especially, it was the first match I've seen him in for you guys where he didn't look slow. He's always had kind of average (for a professional footballer!) pace in a straight line without the ball, but his pace with the ball, the speed of his acceleration and deceleration and changes of direction, combined with his strength, always meant that his middling pure speed didn't really matter.
But he's been looking hesitant and uncertain this year for City. So seeing him come on, get the ball and run at a defence the other night felt like a little nod to the player he's been in the past.
I hope he does more of that, but I'm not sure if it was instructions or confidence that had him playing the other way.
