The mission for Eliaquim Mangala on Sunday was to continue his upward curve on the form graph and send a message to Nicolás Otamendi.
Manuel Pellegrini’s signing of the Argentinian from Valencia for £32m was sealed on Thursday. The 27-year-old is expected to challenge for a starting berth in central defence – this is Mangala’s domain and where he had impressed in City’s opening two matches. Mangala, signed for £42m man from Porto last year, was part of a rearguard that returned clean sheets in the 3-0 victories over West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea. These displays have caused a rethink by those who watched Mangala’s clunky performances last term and wondered if he might have been an errant buy.
In Romelu Lukaku, Mangala faced an opponent who terrorised him in January’s 1-1 draw with Everton at the same venue. On that day the Frenchman, who is built like the proverbial wardrobe, was outmuscled. This was a concern, as any centre-back who wishes to perform for City cannot be bossed by the opposing striker.
Marking Lukaku, Mangala’s first-half display convinced – apart from a moment that might have cost City a goal. After losing the Belgian, he tried to recover only to see Lukaku score. The goal was rubbed out due to an offside call that appeared wrong on replay.
Otamendi was absent from the matchday squad as he awaited international clearance. Vincent Kompany also wobbled throughout last year, yet as the captain and a long-serving Premier League performer he would seem less under threat than Mangala from Otamendi’s acquisition.
Kompany has scored twice for City already yet can still be vulnerable, as was proved when he was undone by one moment of Lukaku power that ceded possession to the No10. Later, Mangala showed his captain how to handle the forward in a show of power and pace that helped make this a far rosier outing than last winter’s.
When Mangala wandered up for a City corner there was an illustration of how switched on he currently is. David Silva’s delivery came to nothing and the ball went to James McCarthy, yet the 24-year-old raced from the Everton area to clean up, nicking possession.
There was a clumsiness to the challenge that led to Mangala being booked moments before the break, though. Out went a boot and Ross Barkley’s ankle was trod on. This was 20 yards from Joe Hart’s goal but the free-kick came to nothing.
The disallowed finish apart, there was scant sign of Lukaku’s pre-game announcement. Of the Mangala-Kompany axis he said: “I am taller than them, I am bigger than them, so I am not scared. I know if we use my pace and I win the physical battles I will have a good game.”
Instead Mangala – along with his defensive partner – spent the second half safeguarding Hart’s goal and watching as their team claimed a third win on the bounce via shots from Aleksandar Kolarov and Samir Nasri. So at ease was Mangala he could fashion a nonchalant backpass off his neck to Hart.
On this evidence Otamendi faces a fight to break into the team, and this is fine news for Pellegrini. True competition will help Mangala continue the elevation of his game. The defender can be content with a fine start to the campaign – on consecutive Sundays he has snuffed out the threat of Chelsea’s Diego Costa and now Lukaku. There may be particular pride at doing so to the latter. With his performance, Mangala showed last January’s encounter will not be the norm.
This afternoon helped settle a score from their developing years, too. Lukaku registered twice for the Anderlecht academy when Mangala then operated as a midfielder for Standard Liege.
This was also mentioned ahead of kick-off by Lukaku. When the sides meet in the return fixture in January there may be less chat from the centre-forward. By then a clear verdict should have been reached regarding whether Mangala is merely enjoying an short early season renaissance or is a bona fide elite defender. So far, the evidence is encouraging.
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