Monday 25 May 2015 12:59, UK
We reflect on Manchester City's 2014/15 campaign with top stats, quotes and pundit views...
Man City
Finishing position: Second (-1 on last season)
Total points: 79 (-7 on last season)
Champions League: Eliminated in the Round of 16 by Barcelona
FA Cup: Eliminated in the fourth round by Middlesbrough
Capital One Cup: Eliminated in the fourth round by Newcastle
Season review
Manchester City came into the 2014/15 campaign as the defending champions and having made significant summer investments in the shape of Porto duo Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando. But just as was the case on the previous occasion they’d gone into a season as champions, the challenge of maintaining performance levels among the existing playing staff proved the biggest problem.
After scoring 20 Premier League goals in 2013/14, Yaya Toure’s winner against Swansea in late November was only his second of the season – by which point City were already eight points adrift of leaders and eventual winners Chelsea, having lost at home to Stoke and picked up only one point from consecutive away games against West Ham and Queens Park Rangers.
Even when strong run of form took them into the Champions League knockout stages and joint-top of the Premier League by New Year’s Day, City were unable to sustain it. Manuel Pellegrini’s men promptly went four games without a win in the Premier League, including a draw at home to Hull, while they were also eliminated from Europe by Barcelona.
The season ended with City showing their undoubted prowess to win the final six games of the season in fine style, cementing their status as Premier League top scorers in the process. But it only emphasised that City underachieved in 2014/15 – the first season in which the club went without a trophy of any description since a 2009/10 campaign that began with Mark Hughes at the helm.
Charlie Nicholas's star player: Joe Hart
“Picking their player of the year is a hard one, even Sergio Aguero has struggled for form at times. I’d be tempted to give it to Joe Hart because of his performances in the Champions League and how he’s finishing the season.”
Quotes of the season
"It's a really difficult one. I'd be unprofessional if I didn't come on and do my job. I am a little lost for words. I didn't expect to come on and score like that.” – Frank Lampard on scoring against Chelsea in September
“This year we lost many, many points, especially at home against not so strong teams.” – Manuel Pellegrini sums up City’s problems.
“I don't think we need a revolution, last year we won two titles. I never can accept that this team is failing, because I don't think it is easy to win the title in the Premier League.” – Manuel Pellegrini defends his team’s season
Stats of the season
- Man City had more attempts (670) and more attempts on target (229) than any other team in the Premier League this season
- Sergio Aguero’s total of 26 Premier League goals is the most any Man City player has scored in a season, beating the previous record of 23 set by Carlos Tevez (2009-10) and Aguero (11-12)
- Joe Hart’s 14 clean sheets meant he became the first goalkeeper to win the Premier League Golden Glove award four times (he also won it in 2011, 2012 and 2013)
Charlie Nicholas's view
“City have underachieved. It looks like they might get second, but they were again disappointing in the Champions League. There haven’t been a lot of games where you can say they played really well this season. They were blowing a lot of teams away last year, but only recently – against QPR – have we seen another glimpse of that.
“It’s been disappointing. It’s been an average season for Yaya Toure and David Silva and that tells you that it wasn’t a top drawer campaign. As champions, they’ve done exactly what they did first time around – they’ve failed to progress and build on it.”
