Hey Cityzens 👋
We just published a really good exclusive interview with Pablo Zabaleta, and it’s packed with proper City nostalgia + some genuinely fresh details. Good luck on Sunday!
Full interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubzz6w8JJ60
Some key highlights:
On winning the title and Ferguson's comments
"For me personally, it was a very special day, even if my goal was the first of the game and few people remember it because everyone — rightly — remembers (Sergio) Aguero's.
"United had dominated English football for so long, with Ferguson famously calling us the noisy neighbours. And then to win the title in that manner — it was beyond anything we could have imagined."
On Pep Guardiola
"Everything, in the best possible way.""He's been there more than ten years, which is longer than he's stayed anywhere. He's won everything, broken records for points and goals in the Premier League, and produced some of the most extraordinary football I've ever seen. For anyone who loves the game, watching Manchester City over the last several years has been a genuine privilege.""He is completely obsessed — in the most admirable way.""For him, it is never enough."
On Balotelli
"Mario is someone I still laugh about whenever he comes to mind. Mancini had worked with him at Inter when he was very young — 19 or 20 — and I think he genuinely believed Mario could be the next great striker. And the ability was absolutely there. He was fast, had a ferocious shot, was technically gifted, and I never once saw him miss a penalty. He was an extraordinary talent.
"And then of course there was the constant drama off the pitch. Every morning at breakfast, without fail, there would be some breaking news story about Mario.
"As a former teammate, I still have a great deal of affection for him. He was a wonderful lad who perhaps needed more time to mature. I hope people remember the footballer he was, because he was truly special."
And more on Micah Richards, Robinho, Tevez, Kompany and so on. You can also read it here.
by flashscoreofficial