Forever Blue With Ian Cheeseman

The word legend, according to the dictionary, means “a collection of stories about an admirable person”, which actually doesn’t sound that impressive.

The way we use the word to describe people we admire is very subjective. If I had a hero I admired and described them as a legend, someone else might strongly argue that my use of the word legend was wrong. I understand that. 

I’ve heard, many many times, people start a tribute to someone by saying something like, “the word legend is handed out to lots of people these days, but this person really is a legend”. It really is all about personal opinion. 

I’m a Manchester City journalist and fan so I’d consider many of my Blues’ heroes to be legends, but even when I narrow down my list of legends, even City fans might disagree. If I said that Colin Bell was a legend I think most Blues would agree, but when I use the word legend to describe Yaya Toure, there will be many who disagree. I don’t think many would argue with my assertion that Toure was a great player for City but the various comments he’s alleged to have made have alienated him from some sections of Blues fans. 

Pablo Zabaleta was a fullback, a far less glamorous position in football, and not many who fulfilled that role are regarded as legends; at any clubs. The reason I would make my case for Zabaleta to be regarded as a legend is not just about what he contributed on the pitch. Don’t get me wrong, he contributed, very richly. He scored the first goal on the day “never to be forgotten” in May 2012, when City took the Premier League title thanks to Sergio Aguero’s injury time winner against QPR, though it seems like some people forget that. 

You might remember that Edin Dzeko scored the goal that first helped start City’s comeback from 2-1 down, but I’ll bet that, unless you’re a City fanatic, you’d stuggle to recall Pablo Zabaleta’s opener that day. Zaba, as fans call him, was as brave as a lion and, on more than one occasion, played on in games despite having gashes to his head that necessitated bandaging. He was a very good fullback, one of the best I’ve seen at City, so he had great quality too, but it was his bravery, the way he embraced Manchester, learnt the language and always has time for everyone that meets him that makes him stand out. As far as I’m concerned he’s a City legend, in the truest definition of the word. 

This week I had the chance to have a long chat with him, via zoom, from his home in Barcelona. He was engaging and fascinating. I hung on his every word. He told me his friend Sergio Aguero was angry when not selected by Pep Guardiola for the recent Manchester Derby. He told me that he loved Roberto Mancini despite suggestions, from some, that there were problems between some City players and Mancini. Pablo talked me through the emotions of that title winning game in 2012 and how the club supported him when his father was seriously injured in a car crash. 

I’ve shared these stories on my Youtube channel, Forever Blue, and you’ll be able to hear some of what he said to me on Tameside Radio, this Friday evening, during Sports Talk, which I host every week from 7pm. 

I’ve been involved in giving sportspeople media training in recent years and I am well aware that most modern day footballers are frightened to speak their mind for fear of being misrepresented in the tabloids, but Pablo was never frightened to talk to the media and knows how to handle himself. He’s highly intelligent but also very modest. I’ve told him a couple of times that he needs to write a book but he says, “I’ll leave that to the superstars, I’ve no story to tell”. 

I think Pablo Zabaleta is the true definition of Manchester City legend.

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