Ancelotti’s men facing testing times

The Oldham-based Manchester City kit manager and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

MANCHESTER City’s 2-0 win at Wigan was an important one: it put three points on the board before reigning champions Chelsea visit Eastlands on Saturday, for what is certain to be a difficult game.

And we have climbed up to fourth place in the Premier League table, which makes much nicer reading for City fans.

Some people say Chelsea have not been tested yet. With ourselves and Arsenal to come next for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, we should have a much stronger indication of their title credentials.




AS much as everyone is looking forward to City’s match against Juventus in the Europa League, I must say I am not a big fan of the competition in its current format.

To make it through to the final you have to play 19 matches — around half a Premier League season — which is an awful lot, especially if you are still battling it out in other competitions.

I do not know what was wrong with the old Uefa Cup competition. Knock-out football keeps people on the edge of their seats. The new format also disrupts the domestic calendar.

If City play in Europe on a Thursday, it means shifting a league game to the Sunday on most occasions.

It was a strange decision to change the system.


DIEGO Maradona is back in the headlines again, with rumours suggesting he could return as Argentina’s coach.

Obviously he was an unbelievably talented player. It is hard to comment on someone’s coaching abilities without having worked under them. But I did think he provided wonderful entertainment at the World Cup in South Africa, with his reactions on the touchline.

My favourite moment was when Carlos Tevez scored and the players ran over to the bench to celebrate with Maradona and the rest of the staff.

It made me believe that Maradona must have something about him, to inspire such togetherness and morale in the camp.

Hopefully he will be back in the spotlight entertaining us again before too long.