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Roma hold Manchester City after Francesco Totti becomes oldest scorer Roma hold Manchester City after Francesco Totti becomes oldest scorer
(about 1 hour later)
It has become the recurring theme of Manchester City’s difficult and largely unsatisfactory Champions League story, and the longer it goes on the harder the impression becomes of a team struggling to know what needs to be done to put it right. This is the fourth successive season they have failed to win their first home game in the competition and, while the damage is not yet grievous, there is already strong evidence that they might have to re-invent themselves if their latest European campaign is not going on to become another chastening experience. It has become the recurring theme of Manchester City’s difficult and largely unsatisfactory Champions League story, and the longer it goes on the harder the impression becomes of a team struggling to know what to do to put it right.
A club with their ambitions must be alarmed about their lack of progress at this level and it could conceivably have been worse bearing in mind the long passages when Roma, sensing the home side’s vulnerabilities, threatened to pin them back. Both sides could reflect on opportunities to win the match, with Manuel Pellegrini’s team showing some late momentum, but the lingering impression of City was one of deja vu for anyone who has followed their difficulties in Europe since the Abu Dhabi money poured in. This is the fourth successive season they have failed to win their first home game in the competition and, while the damage is not grievous, there is already evidence that they might have to re-invent themselves if their latest European campaign is not going on to become another chastening experience.
Collectively, they are still getting to grips with this competition but, individually, the paradox is that this is a team with bags of experience at the highest level. On that basis, it does not quite add up how they can look so raw at times. They had an early breakthrough here courtesy of Sergio Agüero’s fourth-minute penalty but it did not take Roma long to shake their heads clear and they fully deserved Francesco Totti’s equaliser midway through the first half. A club with their ambitions must be alarmed about their lack of progress and it could conceivably have been worse bearing in mind the long passages when Roma, sensing the home side’s vulnerabilities, moved the ball purposefully and threatened to pin them back. Both sides could reflect on opportunities to win the match, with Manuel Pellegrini’s team at least showing some late momentum, but Roma looked the more rounded side and the lingering impression of City was one of deja vu for anyone who has followed their difficulties in Europe since the Abu Dhabi money poured in.
In doing so, Totti took over from Ryan Giggs as the oldest player, at 38 years and three days, to score in the Champions League. He might not be the lean figure of old, packing a few extra pounds these days, but his sureness of touch and understanding of space is still there. He was a joy to watch at times and it was a beautifully measured chip, with the outside of his right foot, to lift the ball almost nonchalantly over the advancing Joe Hart. Collectively, they are still getting to grips with this competition but, individually, this is a team with bags of experience at the highest level. On that basis, it does not quite add up how they can look so raw sometimes.
Alongside him, Gervinho was operating with the pace and directness that was seen only fleetingly during his days at Arsenal. Radja Nainggolan, the Belgian, played with finesse and intelligence, as witnessed by the pass that left Totti running clear for his goal. Roma had arrived here after winning every one of their five Serie A games and they quickly recovered from the setback of Agüero’s early goal to start passing the ball with enough confidence to trouble their opponents. They had an early breakthrough here courtesy of Sergio Agüero’s fourth-minute penalty but it did not take Roma long to shake their heads clear and they fully deserved Francesco Totti’s equaliser midway through the first half.
All the same, analysis of City’s performance should also take in that this was a Roma team lacking their usual goalkeeper and both their first-choice centre-halves, and not forgetting the considerable influence of Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman in midfield. Their understudies all acquitted themselves ably but it was reasonable to have expected City to take control once Maicon had jutted out his left arm to bring down Agüero for his penalty. Totti, with one elegant swish of his right boot, took over from Ryan Giggs in that moment as the oldest player, at 38 years and three days, to score in the Champions League. He might not be the lean figure of old, packing a few extra pounds these days, but his sureness of touch and understanding of space is still there whereas all of City’s front players disappointed, apart from the substitute James Milner.
Maicon has had too distinguished a career to be held up for the ridicule that has come his way since one harrowing ordeal against Gareth Bale four years ago and the Brazilian’s overlapping runs caused his former club plenty of problems. Yet he is not remembered with great fondness at City after his contribution to Roberto Mancini’s final season and it was the kind of defending that would not normally be expected of a player with his experience. They are odd moments indeed when a routine ball gets played into Agüero’s feet and comes back awkwardly off his shins and, before the end, there were signs of tetchiness among supporters in the home stands when Yaya Touré made another misplaced pass.
Agüero was not in a scoring position when Maicon’s hand went up to block the Argentinian and it was a moment of impetuousness from the Roma right-back. It was a clear penalty and City were also entitled to think they should have had another one before half-time when Jesús Navas’s cross came back off the hand of Kostas Manolas. Totti was a joy to watch at times and it was a beautifully measured chip, with the outside of his right foot, to lift the ball almost nonchalantly over the advancing Joe Hart for the equaliser. Gervinho operated with the pace and directness that was seen only fleetingly during his days at Arsenal and Radja Nainggolan, the Belgian, played with finesse and intelligence, as witnessed by the pass that left Totti running clear for his goal.
The home side were, however, finding it difficult to contain their opponents and, by half-time, Roma could also reflect on a shot that Maicon had arrowed against the crossbar and a number of counterattacking breaks when Gervinho’s speed and elusiveness had offered hope. Roma showed why they have won all five of their games in Serie A and passed the ball, to use the words of their manager Rudi García, with “personality and incredible maturity.”
Pellegrini’s withdrawal of Navas at half-time indicated the City manager felt his team were too open. James Milner’s introduction did bring an upgrade but the home team’s problems were more widespread than one switch. Their tempo was poor and it was unusual to see their more attacking players, chief among them Yaya Touré, struggling for maximum form. All the same, the analysis of City’s performance should not overlook the fact this was a Roma team lacking their usual goalkeeper and both their first-choice centre-halves, and not forgetting the considerable influence of Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman in midfield. Their understudies all acquitted themselves ably but it was reasonable to have expected City to play with more control once Maicon had jutted out his left arm to bring down Agüero for his penalty.
They are odd moments indeed when a routine ball gets played into Agüero’s feet and comes back awkwardly off his shins and there was plenty to encourage Roma in the early part of the second half when a growing sense of foreboding was engulfing the stadium. City have previously tried to manufacture an atmosphere on these occasions, dimming the lights before kick-off and projecting a giant blue moon across one of the stands. The routine has been dropped and the noise these days is strangely subdued bearing in mind this is the competition the club want to revere. Maicon’s overlapping runs caused his former club plenty of problems but it was the kind of impetuous defending that would not normally be expected of a player with his vast experience. It was a clear penalty and City were also entitled to think they should have had another one before half-time when Jesús Navas’s cross came back off the hand of Greek defender Kostas Manolas.
Hart had been culpable of a small yet decisive slip as he came off his goalline to try to intercept Totti’s goal but the City goalkeeper did well otherwise. Frank Lampard was next to come on and tested Lukasz Skorupski with a dipping 25-yard drive at his near post. Yet Roma had their own chances and the home crowd were sounding agitated before the end. Yet it was noticeable, too, that Pellegrini did not mention that incident once. Instead he talked afterwards about the frequency with which passes went astray and acknowledged that playing both Agüero and Edin Dzeko might have contributed to the way they were often outnumbered in midfield.
Maicon whacked an early shot against the crossbar and Gervinho’s speed and elusiveness was a prominent feature. Milner’s introduction at the expense of Navas did bring some more impetus but the home team’s problems were more widespread. Their tempo was poor and it was unusual to see their more attacking players, chief among them Touré, struggling collectively for form.
There was plenty to encourage Roma and as the game went on it was a growing sense of foreboding engulfing the home stands. City have previously tried to manufacture an atmosphere on these nights, dimming the lights at kick-off and projecting a giant blue moon across one of the stands. The routine has been dropped and it is a strangely subdued crowd when this is the competition the club want to embrace.
Hart had been culpable of a small yet decisive slip as he came off his goalline to try to intercept the ball before Totti’s equaliser but the City goalkeeper did well otherwise and Pellegrini was justified afterwards in questioning how much space the former Italy international had been given.
Frank Lampard was brought on and he, like Milner, seemed eager to lift the team, testing the goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski with a dipping 25-yard drive. Yet Roma had their own chances and there was a note of desperation to that late flurry from a City team, once again, searching for the answers.