The Cup that matters

It was ironic that on the day Manchester City finally won a trophy and paid back a few Dirhams to their Arab paymasters, bitter city rivals United undermined their glory by claiming a record 19th league championship. We will come to losing FA Cup finalists Stoke later on, but in brief, they might have let themselves down in the 1-0 final defeat to City with a non-performance, but ultimately both teams won (to be explained). First, let’s look at City and their glory. In fairness to United, the scheduling and order of events with the climax of the league win was none of their doing and even Sir Alex Ferguson sympathized with City in that he felt the FA Cup should still be the traditional season-closer in late May. [caption id=“attachment_9965” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“For Manchester City fans, the win has been a long time coming. AFP / Adrian Dennis”]  [/caption] Whatever the injustices of events and while United would probably have a crafty smile when they pick up the Sunday papers and see that they have hijacked City’s glory, those wearing blue in Manchester should be more interested in the bigger picture and delighted that their expensive ‘project’ is finally showing a return. Manager Roberto Mancini was given the task of bringing Champions League football to Eastlands and while that was confirmed this week with a fourth place finish, the FA Cup triumph over Stoke at Wembley on Saturday was more important for so many reasons. Chiefly, City might have made the Champions League tournament but remember, they have to progress through a qualifying round before they even start to consider the potential of the genuine Champions League and its latter knock-out stages. Defeat at the first hurdle and that fourth place would have been for nothing. All that effort for the so-called promised land of the Champions League and suddenly the cycle must start all over again as early as July. This could happen. Yes, City have an excellent squad and are sure to invest ridiculous sums again this summer on some of the most sought-after players in world football but still, until they win their qualifying games it’s all ifs and buts. The FA Cup, however, is in their trophy cabinet and nothing will change that. Their first major cup win in 35 years – fact. The City fans have been through some rough times and witnessed relegation, board room spats, managers coming and going quicker than they should. This is success achieved. It is probably the first evidence at Eastlands that shows money can buy success. Their galaxy of overpaid stars – cup match-winner Yaya Toure is allegedly on £180,000 a week – are finally starting to blend as a team as opposed to a coming together of outstanding individuals. Mancini has learned that consistency in selection is key and not worrying about bruised egos sitting on the substitutes’ bench is one inevitable but required asset needed by a Manchester City manager in this current time. Next season should be about building on this FA Cup win and fourth place rather than a falling apart having achieved merely an initial goal. Stoke City, meantime, undoubtedly let themselves down in the final but would their fans really be too annoyed at a 1-0 score-line against this line-up if they were being truly honest with themselves? Their league position of eighth and the feat of reaching an FA Cup final is over-achievement in itself and a supporter finding any other conclusion would be guilty of unrealistic expectation, after manager Tony Pulis has given this well-supported club optimism and belief following years of decline. Stoke had their day in the sun when they hammered a strong Bolton Wanderers team 5-0 in the semi-final, at Wembley. Maybe that performance meant the players sub-consciously felt they had effectively won the cup already within the whole Wembley experience. Ultimately, although it was an ‘anything can happen on the day’ situation, Stoke are many miles from Manchester City in quality and that was demonstrated here. What Stoke do best every week is compete and make each game a battle. That did not happen on this occasion. The big picture as far as Stoke are concerned though is that they are now on the map to the football world. Pulis is creating a team that can continually improve and he knows the kind of player that fits his pack. And what Wembley will have done for Stoke is market the club in a way that only an FA Cup final can as it is beamed to so many countries globally. When Pulis lifts up his phone to enquire about his international transfer targets this summer, those players that might not even have entered negotiations a season ago are likely to be much more interested in Stoke and their own ‘project’. It’s not a project that Man City have of course but still, it’s a work in progress within their own manageable expectations.