Champions are in business again after dogged win, says Sky Sports pundit
Sunday 5 October 2014 08:42, UK
Niall Quinn says Manchester City have sent a message to their title rivals with their 2-0 win at Aston Villa.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side moved into second place in the Premier League table ahead of the international break, but were made to work hard for their three points and needed late goals from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero to break down the stubborn resistance of the hosts.
City are two points behind Chelsea ahead of the Blues’ Super Sunday clash with Arsenal and former City striker Quinn says it was an important win, even this early in the season.
“That was very big,” he told Saturday Night Football.
“It just settles them all down because questions were being asked and they were all answered positively in the end.
“It took a long time to happen and there will be a lot of relief around the place. They won’t be jumping up and down and feeling like champions again, but they will certainly feel they’ve got the show back on the road.
“They’re back in business. That’s the best way of putting it. There’s an international break now and the players will hopefully all come back for their manager.
“They are saying to Chelsea: ‘We haven’t gone away. We are up and running.’”
City had to wait until the 82nd minute when Toure scored their opener and Aguero’s 88th-minute strike was celebrated in fierce fashion by the Argentine.
And Quinn says it was a difficult day for the City strikers, who had been smothered by the Villa back four for long periods.
He added: “The interesting thing was the celebration of Aguero. It was anger and frustration. He wants to score all the time.
“He knew it wasn’t happening for him today and isn’t it brilliant when one of the best in the league is angry when he scores because he hadn’t scored? That augurs well for Manchester City. It looks as if he’s ready to go on now.
“If Edin Dzeko plays he has to be an influence. Things have to go through him and he has to have a commanding influence on the team.
“It was a non-event for him and that puts more pressure on because if he’s retaining it and holding it up then it’s easier for the other players to get forward and leave gaps behind because you’ve got control.
“The Villa defence were on top of him from the moment the game started.”
