What will Gael Clichy add to Manchester City’s squad? – English Premier League
With their latest summer transfer window acquisition, Manchester City have added further depth to their squad. The Citizens were already well equipped in the defensive department but Gael Clichy’s arrival will bring in English
Premier League experience along with UEFA Champions League game time. The Frenchman was an integral part of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kieran-Gibbs-c20945 in the semi-final itself.
Moreover the French full back was a part of Arsenal’s squad which went onto win the English Premier League in the 2003-2004 season. The squad which was termed as invincibles went throughout the season without losing a single match
in the process. Wenger’s team disintegrated soon after but Manchester City will milk Clichy for all his worth when it comes to their Premier League title charge next season. Moreover with Manchester City participating in the UEFA Champions League, they will
need a bigger squad with more experienced players to cater for mid-week football followed up by domestic commitments on the weekend.
After January, the Manchester club will need to compete on four fronts i.e. the English Premier League, Carling Cup, F.A Cup and the UEFA Champions League, given that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323’s men stay in the UEFA Champions League after
the group stages. Gael Clichy will provide Mancini with options down the left wing. The French full back is an excellent defender. He is known to lose his focus from time to time but his pace allows him to make up for his mistakes by tracking back effectively.
Clichy was a thorn in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-c9622 Ronaldo’s side when he used to line up against the Frenchman whenever Manchester United used to play Arsenal. However at Manchester City, the French defender will have to compete with the likes of
Boyata, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Zabaleta-c29022 for the left back spot. Zabaleta played at the left back spot more often than not at the start of the 2010-2011 Premier League season but then he was replaced by Kolarov in the second half of the season.
However the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 wing back had fitness issues throughout the season which meant that Zabaleta was the preferred of the two for the left back berth. Moreover Zabaleta proved himself to be a stronger defender than Kolarov.
The Argentinean wing back impressed against Manchester United in the F.A Cup semi-final and became a fan favourite through his committed performances throughout the season.
Clichy will find it hard to dislodge Zabaleta at the left back spot but Mancini might opt to use the Zabaleta at the right back spot with Clichy on the left side in the UEFA Champions League, especially on away trips considering
that both are excellent defenders and Clichy is left footed which makes him a more natural defender when playing at left back. With Clichy, Manchester City’s formation could look like;
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joe-Hart-c18699
Pablo Zabaleta – http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joleon-Lescott-c18941 – Gael Clichy
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nigel-de-Jong-c27882 – Yaya Toure
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Silva-c10601
In this setup, Clichy can defend at the back but also support Toure and Silva down the left hand side with his surges up the field. Something that will allow Silva to drift inwards to link up with Tevez and Balotelli whilst Clichy
and Toure combine down the left wing to a good effect for Manchester City. Moreover with solidity at the back and options on the bench, City won’t burn out whilst competing in the UEFA Champions League as well as the English Premier League. For now, Clichy’s
move to City looks like a master stroke for City.
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