1) Laurent Blanc in English football one day?
The man affectionately known as “Larry White” by Manchester United fans when playing across town is rarely mentioned as a prime candidate to join the Premier League cabaret and takeover an elite club here.
But why not? He has big‑game experience in the hot-seat both at Paris Saint-Germain and when France coach, can handle a super-sized ego as the manager of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and has the requisite gnomic manner with the never-tiring football fourth estate.
An illustration of the last point came in his reaction on the eve of this game when asked if Marco Verratti was injured. The inquisitor was informed of being “incredible” for doing so, and then told to “wait to see this evening, if the miracle materialises”.
So Laurent Blanc has the cv and personality but we may have to wait for a while to see him managing on these shores. In February the Frenchman signed a two-year extension on his terms at PSG.
2) No42’s time may be up very soon
Of the absence of Manchester City’s totemic midfielder, Manuel Pellegrini, said: “Yaya Touré is fit but he worked just one or two days before the game against West Brom. He is not 100% and cannot play 90 minutes. It is better to keep Yaya if we need to attack later in the game.”
The puzzle here is that according to the Manchester City manager, Touré had five full days to prepare by the time this tie arrived as the win against the Baggies was on Saturday. In seasons past even a half-fit Ivorian may well have started such a seismic game but, whatever the reasoning, this was a glimpse of a Touré-less future as he is expected to depart from the Etihad Stadium in the summer months.
In his place Pellegrini went with the more prosaic talent of Fernando to partner Fernandinho in central midfield which put even more onus on David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne to sprinkle some stardust on the contest.
3) Never mind Zlatan, how about Edinson?
As the second half began, an occasion primed for PSG’s No10 to star was still waiting for him to do so. Ibrahimovic’s contributions thus far had been a free-kick, a wander into his own half to try to spark play, and not much else.
A few seconds in and the Sweden international was firing a free-kick at Joe Hart that warmed the goalkeeper’s gloves, but it was the man who was fouled who was also worth watching.
Edinson Cavani has notched 18 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions this term for France’s champions and at 29 he is six years younger than his more storied strike partner. Unlike the occasionally clumsy touch of Ibrahimovic, the Uruguayan was near-faultless throughout. It is no secret he and the manager, Laurent Blanc, are not the closest and Cavani has previously admitted he could leave PSG, so expect a summer window filled transfer bulletins about him. But at £55m when he signed in July 2013 Cavani may not be cheap.
4) Otamendi and Mangala prove yes they can
This was a chance for the maligned centre-back partnership to show they have the stuff to perform when required on a high-stakes night.
The manner in which Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Ángel Di María were snuffed out for long passages was impressive. Eliaquim Mangala was up to the muscular challenge of Ibrahimovic, and the flying header Nicolás Otamendi met one second-half cross with illustrated the Argentinian’s athleticism.
Beforehand Pellegrini said: “Both teams are without important players through injury or suspension but that will not be an excuse for whoever goes out of the competition.”
In his team the manager meant Vincent Kompany, who failed a late fitness test on a knee problem and was forced to watch this match from the posh seats.
As the contest entered its closing phase the captain had not been missed which is a telling testimony to the Mangala-Otamendi axis. The bonus here is how this may point to a brighter future for them at the club.
5) The (im)possible dream continues for City
Cometh the 76th-minute cometh Kevin De Bruyne, whose sublime strike at this juncture of a pulsating quarter‑final second leg had the Etihad Stadium jumping on an evening that will be long recalled in these parts.
What was an already vibrant atmosphere hit full‑blown party on the mood gauge when the Belgian’s strike smacked against the back of Kevin Trapp’s net to confirm Manchester City were in the fantasy land of a Champions League semi-final. And whatever next occurs Manuel Pellegrini can be proud when leaving the club in June.
As the manager said: “Maybe a lot of people still think we can’t go through this quarter-final or all the way to the final, but I don’t agree with a lot of criticism about this team when they play in Europe. We have won big matches against big teams both at home and away and hopefully we can add to that list and reach the final four.” His team did, and in magnificent fashion.
