Ahead of this weekend’s big game between Manchester City and Liverpool, I interviewed Andy Savage from @MCFC9320Group. I asked Andy a few questions about what we can expect from City and what he’s seen from both sides so far this season.
Andy has asked all Liverpool fans who are travelling to the Etihad to join in a minute’s applause in the 29th minute. The applause is taking place following the death of Lee Westbury, who passed away aged 29, last season.
1. City started off the season excellently – however, there has been a tad of a decline as of late. How have you reviewed your season thus far?
We started off the season with Kompany and Mangala and looked really solid at the back, but an injury to Kompany seemed to unsettle us a bit and it took us a little bit of time to stabilise things again. Otamendi came in and he looks class and now that Kompany is back alongside him, we’re looking solid again.
The season so far has been very encouraging despite losing Kompany for a few games and losing Nasri, Aguero and the magician Silva who makes us tick, but despite that we’ve carried on creating chances and scored goals without them.
2. Manuel Pellegrini came under a lot of scrutiny last season and particularly the latter stages of the season. How did you feel about him being kept on, despite rumours that City were looking for a replacement?
Pellegrini isn’t a mug and he knows last season wasn’t the best, but we finished second despite all of the so-called problems that were generated from the media. If our owners were that concerned, they wouldn’t have given him a two-year contract extension, although I believe he will be replaced in the summer and that was already agreed when he first signed his contract, knowing he would only manage us for three seasons and then he will move to South America for the rest of his contract doing another work for us. He’s taken us to the next level in Europe despite very tough groups and he deserves credit for that.
3. Liverpool, last time out, against Crystal Palace, lost their first game under new manager Jurgen Klopp. How have you reviewed his start to life in England and do you think that the German will be a success in the long-term?
Klopp is class and given the time I know Liverpool fans will give him, he will be successful for Liverpool. My concern for Liverpool will be how much money he will have to spend because from the outside looking in, Rodgers spent a LOT of money on average players and they will either have to step up or go, but that will be difficult seeing how long they have left on their contracts.
You can already see what Klopp is trying to do with his methods, and players who he has managed have always said they would run through brick walls for him. I’ve no doubt that he will be just what you need and he’s a great character as well. I expect you to get in a better position than you would be under Rodgers, but as I say, he needs money and the next 2-3 transfer windows are crucial for you.
4. Obviously, James Milner made the move from City to Liverpool in the summer. What were your feelings about the switch?
James Milner needed to leave and it was clear a year before he left that he wasn’t signing a new deal, and I know City did everything to make him change his mind. But fair play to Jimmy because he knew he wasn’t going to get many matches for us and he wanted to play in central midfield and that wasn’t going to happen for us and, to be fair, when he had played there for us, he hadn’t been great. I think when he returns (if he’s fit), I’m sure he’ll get a standing ovation, as he is held in the highest regard by City fans. It could’ve been easy for Milner to sign a new deal and just sit on the bench and collect his wages, but that’s not James Milner and players like him are a dying breed.
5. Raheem Sterling, though, made the switch from Liverpool to Manchester. How do you feel the youngster has settled in at the Etihad?
Raheem, early on, had a stop-start time but he’s settled in really well now on the left with Kolarov and has linked up really well with De Bruyne and once Silva and Aguero are back, there’s no doubt the price we paid for him will be justified. I know he’s going to get a lot of abuse and as football fans, it’s natural, but he’s a young lad who has been poorly advised. But you can understand him wanting to move on with the conditions he was under, where at times he was asked to play full-back.
There isn’t a guarantee that he will win anything with us because we’ve not got a divine right to win anything but I will say in the short-term, he’s got a better chance, and if we are all honest, we would to the same because there’s no loyalty in football nowadays, despite how much we fans moan about it.
6. Are there any Liverpool players you feel particularly fearful of as a City fan?
I’m hoping Sturridge doesn’t play alongside Benteke, and Coutinho, because they can cause us big problems and I can see it being a tough match for both sides.
7. Who should Liverpool be wary of from the City side?
Liverpool should be wary of any of our players really, like we should be with you. But Aguero and Silva are expected to return to the side after injuries. Yaya, Fernandinho and De Bruyne have all been free flowing this season and there’s a young lad who plays on the left hand side for us called Raheem Sterling, who might just be up for this one.
I never do predictions really but I can see that this one, despite all the talent on show, will finish with the odd goal.
