Ian Cheeseman: Forever Blue

Even without Pep Guardiola in the dugout at Brammall Lane, the Manchester City machine continued on their unrelenting way.

This wasn’t City at their best, but when they needed to go up a gear, in the last ten minutes, after the Blades had cut through the Blues’ defence to level the scores, they did what they needed to. Just like United used to do, when at their peak under Alex Ferguson, they swarmed all over the Sheffield defence, with man of the moment, Rodri, driving the ball home for the winner.

Last Friday I visited what’s left of City’s old home at Maine Road in Moss Side. Where once the crowds gathered to cheer on their heroes, there is now a housing estate, but at the centre is a small green which includes, right in the middle, a concrete disc to mark where the centre spot was. My visit was on the one-hundredth anniversary of the first competitive City game played there. The Blues faced Sheffield United, that day, and won 2-1 despite missing a penalty. Isn’t it amazing how history repeats itself because on Sunday that’s exactly what happened again. So much has happened to the club, I’ve supported all my life, since then. There have been ups and downs and of course the move to the new stadium. The current period, the best in the club’s history, has been amazing. I can’t claim to have seen it all, but since the 1970s I’ve been a die-hard fan and journalist, witnessing the most marvellous journey any club, and its fans, could possibly have gone on. I wouldn’t swap one moment of that rollercoaster ride, even losing at Lincoln, Stockport & York City. Those defeats made last season’s Treble so much sweeter.

As far as 2023 is concerned, despite Pep Guardiola expressing his concern that having completed the Treble in June, his squad might lose a little of their intensity, particularly early in the season. They showed in that last ten minutes in Sheffield that their appetite has not yet been satisfied.

Guardiola has freshened his squad with two Croatians, Gvardiol and Kovacic, who’ve both made very impressive starts to their careers. By the end of this week, there may well be other new recruits and of course injured players like Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones will return eventually to add to the competition for places.

Guardiola’s assistant, Juanma Lillo, deputising for the Blues boss while he recovers from back surgery, spoke to the media and looked after the team at Bramhall Lane. As I sat listening to his words in the club’s press facilities, it was obvious why he’s be re-recruited by Pep as his number two. Lillo oozes confidence and positivity, just like Guardiola.

Managing City is not just about identifying the right tactics and of course recruiting the right players, it’s about creating an environment where everyone is happy and enjoying what they do. Modern City players are very richly rewarded for what they do, probably too highly rewarded, so how do you motivate those multimillionaires?

As fans, we’d love to think it’s because they love the club, or their desire to win trophies and both those factors will have some validity, but don’t underestimate the role of a boss who shows his team the utmost respect and support. I’ve been in work situations where I’ve had great managers but I’ve also had terrible managers.

I’ve always been very self-motivated but having a happy working environment, led by an inspirational talented leader, certainly got the best out of me. Even during his absence, Pep’s back room staff seem more than capable of guiding the happy ship onwards and upwards. It’s Great to be a Blue!