The Capital One Cup, very much the poor relation within the hierarchy of competitions available to English clubs, has in recent history been used by clubs to rotate their squad of players, not only allowing fringe players vital minutes but used as an opportunity to blood promising younger players.
Manuel Pellegrini though is not a manager keen to relegate the competition to the status of second-class citizen, mindful of the fact that this was the first trophy he landed in England.
He also appears to be a proponent of taking each game as it comes (rather than it being mere lip service), being an opportunity rather than a burden on a bloated fixture list.
In the previous round of the season’s competition Pellegrini took plenty of heat for selecting a full-strength against Sunderland. His willingness to do so was rewarded not only with a 4-1 win but a sizeable early cushion that still allowed him to field three late substitutes in Patrick Roberts, Manu Garcia and George Evans – each making their debut for the club.
When the teams were announced for tonight’s round four clash against Crystal Palace another strong team was announced. So when a scan down the teamsheet revealed that City’s number 72, Kelechi Iheanacho, was no token gesture.
Despite the summer departures of Edin Dzekoand Stevan Jovetic Pellegrini did not reinforce his striking options, electing to go with just three recognised strikers in Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony and Iheanacho. In doing so, Pellegrini declared this to be a show of faith in Iheanacho; that despite his tender years he was ready for such responsibility and although he was left out of City’s Champions League squad, he was a victim of circumstance more than anything due to the squad restrictions in place.
Prior to starting tonight’s game Iheanacho had played 43 minutes in a City shirt, scoring one goal – the crucial winner away to Crystal Palace – and showing glimpses of his precocious talent. Against Palace this evening Iheanacho played the full 90 minutes, with Bony the striker substituted late on rather than him.
And deservedly so. In the lead up to the game Pellegrini said that he believes that “he [Iheanacho] has the quality to have a very high level in this squad.” With Pellegrini not one to routinely hand out compliments this was praise indeed.”
Over the course of the 90 minutes Iheanacho showed that this was not misplaced as he delivered a man of the match performance, grabbing the headlines with a goal and two assists in City’s 5-1 rout.
He immediately settled into the game, not being overawed by the stage or the fact he was making his first start. Youth brings with it a verve and fearlessness, traits that Iheanacho has in spades and he had the confidence to try things, hitting a long range (if hopeful) shot early in the game.
As the game progressed and he settled more into the game his quality was even more evident. A smart ball through to Kevin de Bruyne almost fashioned a chance, before he set up the Belgian to put City 2-0 up.
De Bruyne repaid the favour early in the second half, Iheanacho taking a neat touch before firing home a low shot with his left foot to extend City’s lead further. And with the clock ticking down his neat first time pass played in substitute Manu Garcia for City’s fifth, capping a fine win and all-round performance that stylistically at least evoked memories of another former City youngster, Daniel Sturridge: fleet of foot, a quick turn of pace and an awareness of his surroundings. Like Sturridge too he appears to be “not just a finisher” to quote Pellegrini after the game.
The clamour for his inclusion on a more regular basis will surely grow following this performance and there will be those who want to rush him. Pellegrini though doesn’t appear one to swayed by public opinion though and it is difficult to see him usurping Bony in the pecking order quite yet (particularly with Bony on the scoresheet despite some patchy performances).
With an impressive first start now under his belt though Iheanacho looks set to make sure the clamour doesn’t die down anytime soon.
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