EPL – Player Ratings – Manchester City 2 West Bromwich Albion 1

Manchester City only just managed to edge past a determined West Brom side to come away with all three points at the Etihad overnight.

Stephane Sessegnon opened the scoring inside the initial five minutes with a wonderful strike that beat Joe Hart at his near post. It did not take too long for City to respond though as they pushed for the equaliser. Aleksandar Kolarov was brought down inside the penalty area and Sergio Aguero dispatched the resulting spot kick to score his 130th goal for the Sky Blues in his 200th appearance for the club.

City continued to dominate possession thereon but lacked the creative vision in the final-third. The Baggies also had a handful of efforts in the second-half, although they failed to finish off their chances. Manuel Pellegrini brought on Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure on the hour mark and they had an immediate impact on the game. De Bruyne’s darting run down the right resulted in a good chance for Aguero, whose shot was initially saved but the ball fell right in the path of the incoming Samir Nasri for a simple finish.

Manchester City

Joe Hart – 4: Should have done much better to cover his near post for the opening goal after he was beaten far too easily by Sessegnon’s powerful effort. Did not have much to save thereon.

Pablo Zabaleta – 5: Let James McClean get the better of him on more than a few occasions after being beaten by his pace. Managed to perform better as the game progressed.

Nicolas Otamendi – 7: A much better performance than we have seen from the Argentine so far this season. Did extremely well to make up for Mangala’s mistakes. City will need more defensive efforts like this from the 28-year-old.

Eliaquim Mangala – 5: Made far too many errors as the Frenchman still has not adjusted to speed of the Premier League. Could have easily given away a penalty after a poor challenge.

Aleksandar Kolarov –8: One of City’s best player on the night. Moved forward with great attacking intent, winning a penalty while also having a fair go at the Baggies goal. Did well to keep Sessegnon under wraps following the opener.

Fabian Delph –5: The English international returned to the starting XI following a long injury lay-off but failed to make any sort of positive impression on the game.

Fernando –6.5: Was very good on the ball, rarely making any mistakes. Sat deep to provide defensive cover but also moved forward when he got the chance.

Jesus Navas –6: Threatened down the right-hand side with his pace and whipped in a few testing crosses. Was involved in the build-play that led to City’s winning goal.

Samir Nasri – 7: The Frenchman had a decent outing after returning to the starting XI after almost seven months. Scored the winner and was heavily involved in almost of the Sky Blue attacks. Combined well with Kolarov on the left-wing.

Wilfried bony – 4: The Ivorian could not get into the game and evidently struggled up front. Was substituted on the hour-mark.

Sergio Aguero – 7: Converted the equalising penalty on his landmark appearance for the club. Was given a slightly different role in the No.10 position and did a good job. Tested Ben Foster on a few occasions and it was his pass that found Nasri for the winning goal.

Substitutes

Kevin De Bruyne – 6.5: Changed the game after he came on, providing a creative spark from midfield.

Yaya Toure – 6: Replaced Delph to get some much needed minutes under his belt before the crucial Champions League tie. Did well to hold possession well from the centre of the park.

Gael Clichy – N/A: Replaced Aguero in the final minutes.

West Brom

Ben Foster – 6: Could not do much more for either of the goals he conceded, while he made a few good saves to prevent City scoring more.

Craig Dawson – 6: Had a tough task of dealing with Nasri and Kolarov and did a decent job of curtailing the threat.

Gareth McAuley– 6: Frustrated City attackers for most parts of the game along with Evans.

Jonny Evans – 6: Solid defensive display from the Northern Irishman, who will be disappointed to have conceded two goals in an otherwise fine performance.

James Chester – 5: Had to deal with Navas’ speed and made no mistakes against the Spaniard, but De Bruyne caused him a bit of worry when he came on.

Darren Fletcher – 6.5: A spirited performance from the Scottish international, who did extremely well in the middle of the park.

Sandro – 5: Did well in a defensive sense but did not offer much going forward.

Stephane Sessegnon – 7: Although Hart was easily beaten, Sessegnon’s shot was struck with venom and accuracy. He did a good job in attack, but was a bit unfortunate to give away the penalty.

James McClean–6.5: Was proving to be a handful for Zabaleta and provided the cross for Sessegnon’s opener. Nearly snatched the equaliser with the last kick of the game, but his shot went narrowly wide of the post.

Saido Berahino –6: Moved into the striker’s position after Rondon came off and got himself into good positions, only to be let down by poor finishing.

Salmon Rondon – 5: Suffered an injury in the opening 10 minutes and could not shake it off, forcing a substitution in the first-half.

Substitutes

Graig Gardner – 5: Had a number of shots on goal but was a bit wayward with his finishing. Tested Joe Hart with a fine effort from a free-kick in the second-half.

Jonathan Leko – N/A: Came on for Sessegnon for the final 10 minutes and tried his best to get involved in play. A promising few minutes for the 16-year-old.

Gael Clichy wears gloves to shake hands because he’s terrified of germs

Gael Clichy is so afraid of little tiny germs that he dons a pair of gloves to shake hands with opponents.

The French full-back wears black gloves for the pre-game ceremonies before removing them just prior to kick-off.

The Man City star’s phobia is well-known among team-mates and fellow professionals.

A source said: “Gael is a real germaphobe and always washes his hands and tries to avoid handshakes. All the lads are aware of it but there’s not much mickey-taking as he’s quite precious and doesn’t like attention being drawn to it.”

He’s not that fond of spiders either…

Gael Clichy ready to take his chance at Manchester City

Gael Clichy believes he needs to prove his fitness and ability for Manchester City after starting just two Premier League games this season.

Gael Clichy believes he needs to prove his fitness and ability for Manchester City after starting just two Premier League games this season.

The former Arsenal full-back missed the opening three months of the season through injury, but could be set for an extended run in the first team with Aleksander Kolarov now sidelined.

Clichy said he wanted to remain fit for the rest of the season and make the most of his opportunity.

"My aim for the rest of the season is to remain fit because without that I can't hope for anything," he told the Daily Star.

"I'm feeling really strong and feel good in training. I know what I'm capable of and I'm ready for any challenge that is put in front of me."

Clichy said he was glad to see the back of the knee injury that kept him out at the start of the season.

"It was quite a rare injury. A piece of bone came off in my knee so we had to get it attached again," the 30-year-old said.

"The surgeon hadn't seen many like it but you have to get it fixed.

"After about six weeks I felt really good but probably pushed it too hard. The injury and recovery period lasted about nine weeks and I'm feeling much better now."

Man City's Gael Clichy picks his greatest 5-a-side team - and his choice of defender is BIZARRE

The French left-back has played with some legends - so to choose THIS former team mate doesn't make a lot of sense.

Gael Clichy is one of those Premier League footballers with an even better CV than you realise.

He was a (surprisingly big) part of Arsenal's Invincibles squad from 2003/04. He has been a key member of two Premier League-winning sides at Man City. In the 13 years he has been in England, the 30-year-old French left-back has played with some truly great Premier League stars.

That is why we got one particularly big shock when we saw the five-a-side team he picked for Man City's YouTube channel.

The rules state he can only pick former team-mates. With that in mind, Joe Hart in goal is pretty obvious. The inclusion of Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry - the stars of that great Arsenal side - makes perfect sense.

That's Clichy in the baseball cap, apparently in an Edu headlock

But who has Clichy chosen as his one defender?

Arsenal legend Sol Campbell?

Vincent Kompany, Man City's titanic leader?

Er, no. He's gone for Joleon Lescott.

Yes, current Aston Villa centre-half JOLEON LESCOTT.

So has Clichy done a considered analysis of his former colleagues' footballing qualities and decided Lescott was the best defender?

Or has he just picked an old mate?

Hmm…

Gael Clichy vs. Aleksandar Kolarov: The Manchester City Left-Back Battle

The competition for places at Manchester City this season looks set to be fierce. Their summer reshuffle has strengthened their hand. With a number of existing players now coming back into better form, every player has to be at his best to find himself in the starting lineup.

Raheem Sterling has brought pace and balance to City’s attack and is already a key player for Manuel Pellegrini’s side. Fabian Delph, just back from injury, adds energy to the club's midfield options, and with Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala improving vastly on last season, and Nicolas Otamendi having joined on Thursday from Valencia, City’s defence looks healthier than ever.

Left-back has remained untouched, though. Gael Clichy andAleksandar Kolarov will once again contest what has been something of a problem position for City in recent seasons. Both have deficiencies that, really, City need to address if they want to achieve their ambitions, but for now Pellegrini feels he has enough options with the current incumbents to improve City. 

Clichy is yet to play this season because of injury, but throughout his time at the club, he has shown himself to be more the more well-rounded of the two players. He may not attack with as much precision as Kolarov, who scores more goals and assists with more regularity, but he has enough pace to cause right-backs concern and is much more solid defensively.

Consistency has been Clichy’s big problem, with last season the perfect example of his inability to maintain his best form over long periods. He started the season woefully, leaving Mangala, who was new to the league and struggling to adapt, horribly exposed at times. He was being beaten easily in one-on-one situations, failing to stop crosses into the box and looking short on confidence. His misplaced pass in the home defeat to CSKA Moscow in November was the nadir of his City career.

However, a sharp upswing in his performance level from that point onwards reminded the City fans of the qualities he offers. Clichy isn’t a great modern-day full-back—he’s too lightweight and not explosive enough going forward to be considered one of the best—but he is an excellent player when at his best.

He was, on balance, City’s first-choice left-back last season. Kolarov had a miserable campaign, with his defensive frailties exposed too often. Whereas in the past his attacking contribution masked his deficiencies at the back, he failed to play with the same dynamism going forward.

Kolarov has rarely filled observers with confidence since arriving at City in the summer of 2010. His positioning is poor, and he oftenovercommits going forward and doesn’t have the pace to get back into his defensive position. City can look exposed against the better sides when he is in the side.

Profligacy in possession has been another issue. Kolarov likes to take shots from all angles—understandable given the power and quality in his left foot—but too often his efforts are wayward and frustrating.

At his best, though, he is superb going forward, capable of delivering wicked balls into the box on which forwards can thrive. Very few Premier League defenders possess the same ability to fire a dangerous ball into the area.

And this season, with Clichy injured, Kolarov is thriving. He’s been superb in City’s three wins so far, with the space created by Sterling’s presence on the left benefiting the Serbian hugely.

The 29-year-old scored an ingenious goal from a tight angle at Evertonon Sunday and caused havoc down the left against West Brom andChelsea. He loves to go forward, and given City have totally dominated all three games so far, he’s had less to do in his own defensive third than perhaps he has in the past.

The problem City have is their dominance is unlikely to last all season. Sooner or later they will come up against a side that causes them problems. Anyone with a pacey right-winger can target Kolarov and expose his lack of pace and defensive appetite. It’s happened numerous times before.

In fact, it’s arguably Clichy’s pace that has seen him generally preferred to Kolarov during their time together at City. He’s seen as a safer pair of hands, particularly against better sides with speed on the flanks.

Their Premier League statistics for the 2014/15 season, supplied bySquawka, make for interesting reading. Clichy played 23 times, scoring once, and Kolarov made 21 appearances, scoring twice.

They both assisted three goals, but it was Clichy who supplied more key passes—23 to Kolarov’s 19. Given Kolarov is seen as a superior attacking threat, Clichy matched him pace for pace. Add in Clichy’s far better take on statistics—he managed to go past players 83 percent of the times he attempted to, which is far higher than Kolarov who was successful just 44 percent of the time—and it’s arguable he is better in possession.

It’s defensively where the differences become most apparent. Clichywon 53 percent of his tackles throughout the season, which contrasted sharply with Kolarov’s 40 percent. Clichy made an average of eight defensive contributions per game, whereas Kolarov made five. However, Kolarov is superior in the air, winning 56 percent of his aerial duels compared with Clichy’s 39 percent.

The statistics further underline Clichy’s credentials. He is the better all-round player. Given City are a club making significant use of statistics, with far more intelligent analysis than provided here, it’s little wonderPellegrini seems to prefer Clichy to Kolarov when both are fit and at their best.

Kolarov may have the headline-grabbing explosive left foot, but Clichyis superior. With the Frenchman now 30, though, City will surely look to evolve their left-back options in a transfer window not too far away.

They do, of course, have a very promising young player on loan at sister club New York City FC. Angelino had a fine season for the EDS last season and looks to have a bright future.

There are holes in his game—particularly defensively—that have been exposed even in MLS, a far inferior league to the one he hopes to make his name in. Whether he can improve enough to make the jump into City’s first team remains unclear, but he is a wonderfully talented young player who is capable of making the necessary adjustments to his game and becoming a top-class player.

For now, it continues to be a straight race between Clichy and Kolarov. The Serbian's start to the season has been exceptional and he deserves great credit, but Clichy has shown throughout his time at City he is the safer, more solid option. 

Once he returns from injury, it will be very interesting to see how longKolarov keeps hold of the shirt. 

Villa vs City: Pellegrini's Probable Starting XI

After a 3-1 road win against Sevilla in the Champions League and a 2-1 defeat of Norwich City at home, it looks crystal clear that Manchester City heads into Sunday's match against Aston Villa on a high. After all, since City's last defeat, which was against Spurs in the Premier League, City has gone undefeated in its last eight matches, seven of which have culminated in a victory. Though City enters the game in almost optimal conditions, if it weren't for the injuries to top men Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta, the big question remains, who will start at Villa Park on Sunday?

As mentioned previously, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta are the three definite omissions from the squad list for the match against Aston Villa, while Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy, who have been out with long term injuries, enter the match day squad. Given Fabian Delph's rather uncomfortable exit from Aston Villa as well as his ongoing return to match day fitness, he looks primarily in line for a run in the second half of about 25 minutes for City. Gael Clichy, who was on the bench for City's victory over Sevilla, could also be a substitute for Aleksandar Kolarov, who has maintained a good level of consistency in his play this season.

Manchester City's midfield could potentially have a change, after Fernando and Fernandinho started the match against Sevilla as defensive midfielders, while Yaya Toure played in a more attacking position. It is likely that Kevin de Bruyne will be restored as the attacking midfielder with Jesus Navas and Raheem Sterling sitting behind Wilfried Bony, who is likely to get the nod ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho, who played for City's U-19 team against Sevilla's U-19 team in the UEFA Youth League. Iheanacho does looks set for a second-half appearance, or perhaps a starting role if Manuel Pellegrini decides to drop Raheem Sterling, which he did against Norwich City.

With Pablo Zabaleta out and Gael Clichy not exactly match day fit for a start, it looks like Aleksandar Kolarov will get the nod at left-back and Bacary Sagna at right-back. In the center back positions, it is likely that Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany will be paired together in defense, as they were against Norwich and Sevilla.

Pellegrini: Silva nearing his return

The Spain international is back in light training following an ankle injury and is expected to be available soon, but will miss Manchester City's trip to Aston Villa.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says David Silva could return to action after the international break.

The playmaker is back in light training as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury he picked up while playing for Spain against Luxembourg in a Euro 2016 qualifier last month.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque named his squad for the forthcoming friendlies against England and Belgium on Friday and did not include Silva.

And speaking ahead of Sunday's trip to Aston Villa, Pellegrini confirmed Silva remained short of fitness and is targeting the home match against Liverpool on November 21.



"Silva's ankle is not 100 per cent," Pellegrini said. "I hope after these 15 days he will be okay.

"The Spanish national team know David cannot play and so there is no problem."

Sergio Aguero remains on the sidelines alongside Silva, while Pellegrini does not believe Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy are fit to start despite returning to the bench for Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League win against Sevilla.

"Clichy and Delph are back, but maybe not ready to start," he said.

"We hope that all of the players will have recovered after the break as we play a lot of games. I hope then we can rotate more."

Delph, recalled to Roy Hodgson's England squad this week, joined City in a close-season move from Villa – performing a controversial U-turn having initially stated his intention to remain at the club.

The 25-year-old can expect a frosty reception on his return to Birmingham, but Pellegrini believes that would be unfair.

"I hope he will not receive any jeers," he added. "He played a lot of years for Aston Villa.

"Aston Villa wanted to sell him. He continued being a player that gave a lot for Aston Villa. I don't think Villa fans will forget that.

"It's good for Fabian to play for England. He played some minutes in the Champions League and maybe he will play some on>