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After having appeared to surrender their chances of winning the league with defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in April, Manchester City secured their second Premier League title in three years after one final surge saw them leapfrog Liverpool in the final furlong.
It capped a glorious first season in charge for Manuel Pellegrini, who now has his first title as a manager in Europe under is belt and will look to strengthen his side to dominate domestically over the next few years.
City played an open, attractive brand of football right from the off, and although there were times when it seemed like their title chances were in jeopardy, it would be difficult for anyone to argue that they didn’t deserve it. They scored the most goals, had the best goal difference by some distance and played some outstanding football along the way.
But who were City’s best players over the course of the season? Here we take a look at three names that stood out as City finished with two domestic trophies for the first time in their history.
Yaya Toure
It’s difficult to start with anyone else. Yaya Toure has been a revelation since his move from Barcelona in 2010, but this season has seen him move up a level. He managed 20 league goals – 24 in all competitions – which, from midfield, is a superb haul. Add to that his usual lung-busting runs from deep and his dominance over his opposite number, and it is no surprise the Ivorian has emerged City’s most impressive player over the course of the season.
His goal against Aston Villa in the penultimate match of the season summed him up: a powerful run from inside his own half leaving a trail of Villa defenders on the floor after desperate attempts to get the ball of him, before an emphatic finish that gave the ‘keeper no chance. It was brutal and brilliant – indicative of everything that makes him one of the best midfielders in the game.
The level he has hit this season makes a mockery of Didi Hamann’s claim the he is “a liability”, a comment which appeared to criticise him for his lack of defensive work this season. However, Pellegrini made it quite clear Toure was instructed to attack more, with the arrival of Fernandinho meaning City had the energy in midfield to allow the Ivory Coast international more freedom to go forward. It was a move which worked brilliantly.
He only missed three league games and was impressive in almost every single one.
David Silva
The greatest ever City player. David Silva, a midfielder who mixes artistry and beauty with hard-work and discipline, was magnificent for City this season, regularly dictating games with his vision and passing ability. No one in the Premier League can match his quality in possession – no matter how many players he has around him when receiving the ball, he always seems to find a pass.
He started the season out on the left, drifting inside to cause problems, but his performances improved when moved into the No.10 role, closer to the striker where he can inflict more damage. It was a subtle shift that gave City an edge in Sergio Aguero’s absence, with Silva suddenly even more central to their best attacking moments.
He was running the show. The games against Hull, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were masterclasses in how to operate as a withdrawn forward, with guile and selflessness his defining features.
He missed 11 league matches, though, meaning Toure, who was a virtual ever-present, pips him in terms of influence over the course of the season.
Fernandinho
The Brazilian, who cost the club £30 million in the summer, has been worth every penny, despite the majority of observers having initially raised their eyebrows at the fee City paid. Gareth Barry, who was excellent for City during his years in the side, was a tough act to follow, but Fernandinho’s energy, tackling, range of passing and ability to link play means he’s turned out to be an upgrade.
There’s very little he can’t do. He’s a complete midfielder, capable of combining the roles performed by Barry and Nigel De Jong at City in recent years. It’s this completeness that has allowed Toure to attack, a system tweak that proved vital in City’s title win.
