James Milner underlines Manchester City’s ability to grind out results.
Manchester City have arguably the strongest and most talented squad in the Premier League.
At the start of the season, they were most people’s favourites to win the title, and with a week or so of the campaign left, they are in pole position to clinch their second championship in three years.
However, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have not always had it their way and have had to struggle on many occasions. Saturday was one of those days when the Citizens had to “grind out” a result.
Everton took the lead at Goodison Park after just 11 minutes and also threatened to derail City’s comeback in the second half, but the 2012 English champions eventually saw themselves through 3-2 to go level on points with Liverpool and ahead on goal difference with just two games left to play.
James Milner believes that it is this quality that will prove to be crucial in City winning the Premier League this campaign. The England international midfielder underlines that having the ability to eke out a victory even without playing well illustrates that they are flexible.
‘That game [against Everton] was very reminiscent of the Newcastle game (their penultimate match in 2011-12 which they won 2-0) when we won the title’, Sky Sports quotes the 28-year-old as saying. ‘We didn’t play well second half but to grind out the result shows that other side to us. People see the ability in the side and how we move the ball and score goals but you can’t win if you don’t grind it out and fight for every ball’.
Whether City have been the best side to watch this season or not is up for debate, but under Pellegrini they have shown time and again that they can be flexible in their approach while holding true to their style. City have merged steel with silk, and it is this outstanding trait that will stand them in good stead.
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