Title race isn't over yet

Just two days ago, I wrote that the title race was effectively over and that the battle for 4th was now the major talking point. I really don’t know why I keep getting surprised when this PL campaign turns itself on it’s head. It has happened so often till now, it’s almost predictable.

Tonight, Manchester City reversed the clock five months and turned in the sort of dominant performance which had been the hallmark of their season. Meanwhile, in Wigan, Manchester United were also reversing the clock. Unfortunately for them, it meant the kind of insipid display which had bogged down their title challenge to begin with, had once again reared it’s ugly head.

After Sunday, with United eight points clear at the top, their title odds were a rather unattractive 1/100. The title seemed all but wrapped up. Surely a Sir Alex Ferguson team could not let slip such a comfortable gap? Well, City are hardly champions elect yet, but the gap in the door has once again skewed ajar. Ready for City to jam their foot in. Normally, you would say five points in five games would be too big an ask for a side to recover from. Especially against United. But, crucially, City will welcome United to the Etihad on the 30th of April. It could potentially be the biggest PL game for many years, and if City do emerge victorious, they may well be walking away with that elusive Premier League crown.

So, can City do it? Well, assuming that City do beat United at the Etihad, they will still have to claw back two more points. There is a very strong possibility that the title will go down to a nerve-crunching final day. In which case, City would surely sense a chance. The sky blues are at home against QPR on the last day, whereas the red devils face a tricky away trip to Sunderland. The Stadium of Light has proved a difficult place to go this season, especially under the stewardship of Martin O’Neill.

However, Sunderland will almost certainly have nothing to play for come the end of the season whereas QPR will be fighting for their lives to stay in the division, barring a remarkable run of form. The other remaining fixtures are relatively even, perhaps balanced in United’s favour due to the fact they play more often at home.

It will be very interesting to see what effect Man City’s win tonight will have on the players. Before the game, with the title seemingly gone, they would have gone out and played with a freedom which has been noticeably absent in recent weeks. With the title now back on the line, can Mancini’s men keep playing the free-flowing, attacking football which got them to the top of the league in the first place? It is a question we will have the answer to soon enough, as City face tough away trips to both Norwich and Newcastle. As most footballers will tell you, good unity within a squad and strong mental attitudes are key factors to winning titles. So far this season, these qualities have seemingly been lacking from City’s game. They have undoubted quality on the pitch, there is no argument that City have the most talented array of players.

The problem for City is best exemplified by Mario Balotelli. Brilliant when all is going well (normally at home, remind you of anyone?) and more often than not, a liability when away from home comforts (read Arsenal on Sunday, once again, remind you of anyone?). Title winning sides cannot afford to have such luxuries and Balotelli is a luxury that Mancini has seemingly become tired of. He has already stated his desire to move him in the summer and it seems as if Balotelli will not be taking any further part in City’s season. So, with perhaps City’s biggest troublemaker out of the picture, can the rest of the squad come together and put together a run, worthy of Premier League champions?

You certainly cannot rule it out. This Premier League season has had more twists and turns than a roller coaster in Disney World, somewhere Mario Balotelli might be residing for the rest of this enthralling campaign.

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https://www.sportskeeda.com/news/wigan-stun-united-to-give-city-hope/

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/10/why-balotelli-should-leave-man-city/