Well I didn't enjoy that - far closer than it should have been - dropping back to defend a one goal lead with Silva as loan striker just looks so unnatural for this team, and then when they did get a chance to break they made wrong decisions. I think I only began to enjoy it when there was a minute left and we were still in the corner.
Experience wasn't helped by being in a pub that was largely neutral with people more interested in their bet than the actual football, and a television where the sound was about 5 seconds head of the picture - so I knew the goals were in before I saw them!
However, despite that - a superb performance that dominated the first half and ground out a result in the second. that double save by Ederson was brilliant - although his positioning for the goal was suspect. Walker got over the early booking and didn't put a foot wrong. Kompany looked assured - so disappointing that he had to go off. Otamendi is taking on the consistent lead role and going with it, Mangala showed that he does have it with him to perform at this level - just needs to prove it consistently, Delph struggled in this one - inevitable it would happen at some point, Fernandinho was brilliant - in midfield and defence, Gundogan brought some extra stability to the midfield, De Bruyne played a steady disciplined game this time - not a lot of attacking threat, but I think his role today was to recycle and move on, Silva was brilliant until pushed forward into that loan striker role - then he was in danger of picking up a second yellow as his frustration almost got the better of him, Sterling was always dangerous - loved the way he was moving across the forward line - defenders didn't really know what to do with him. Sane, also a constant threat and has witching with Sterling and Jesus caused all sorts of problems, Jesus was disappointing - he isn't quite on it at the moment, he is a young lad who has had a phenomenal year - perhaps just needs to play second fiddle to Ageuro for a while - I thought the second half was crying out for Aguero - but Pep knows best!
So whilst I didn't enjoy that - the table is lovely to see and perhaps the highlights will be more enjoyable now that we know the ending!
