We bottled that big time. Forget tactics and selection, we just couldn't play our normal game in the pressure- cooker situation. Liverpool's players rose to the situation, we crumbled when the pressure was on.
How will we react? I am not talking about the immediate reaction when tiredness is a factor, and when tactically the game is set up perfectly for LFC, I am talking over the next 1-2 seasons.
If you do something badly, it can scar you. We did not lose at Anfield because we didn't try, but because we couldn't play our football in a huge occasion. The self doubt is there now, and that can be very damaging when the occasion occurs again. However by the same token, this can be very motivating. Every single title-winning side for about the last 5 Premier League seasons has collapsed the next season. It also happened with Mancini's City side where within 2-3 games of the next season you could see the change in mentality.
There is no way of telling the impact of this defeat on City. It could make this team, or it could break it, and part of it will be determined by how Guardiola manages and coaches the players. And also new signings will impact on it as well
I would like to think it will make this team greater. A challenge to overcome. I'll remember last night for years to come, and I am sure the players will. It will be burned into their collective memory. I am backing this to be the spur for great things to come. There are parallels with other great sides e.g. AC Milan losing to Liverpool in the Champions League in 2005 in a nightmare and then coming back 2 seasons later and winning it.
We will have to work it out. A question mark has now been put against this team, and they have to respond in the big games to come, and I am not talking about this season, but in the seasons to come. In the big games,when a game turns against us, are we going to collapse like glass, or play through it like a truly great side?
How will we react? I am not talking about the immediate reaction when tiredness is a factor, and when tactically the game is set up perfectly for LFC, I am talking over the next 1-2 seasons.
If you do something badly, it can scar you. We did not lose at Anfield because we didn't try, but because we couldn't play our football in a huge occasion. The self doubt is there now, and that can be very damaging when the occasion occurs again. However by the same token, this can be very motivating. Every single title-winning side for about the last 5 Premier League seasons has collapsed the next season. It also happened with Mancini's City side where within 2-3 games of the next season you could see the change in mentality.
There is no way of telling the impact of this defeat on City. It could make this team, or it could break it, and part of it will be determined by how Guardiola manages and coaches the players. And also new signings will impact on it as well
I would like to think it will make this team greater. A challenge to overcome. I'll remember last night for years to come, and I am sure the players will. It will be burned into their collective memory. I am backing this to be the spur for great things to come. There are parallels with other great sides e.g. AC Milan losing to Liverpool in the Champions League in 2005 in a nightmare and then coming back 2 seasons later and winning it.
We will have to work it out. A question mark has now been put against this team, and they have to respond in the big games to come, and I am not talking about this season, but in the seasons to come. In the big games,when a game turns against us, are we going to collapse like glass, or play through it like a truly great side?