For perhaps the first time since Manuel Pellegrini’s Cool Hand Luke act arrived at Manchester City the Chilean’s mask slipped after this second 2-1 defeat at home in five days.
West Ham United’s fine victory had a jubilant manager, Slaven Bilic, likening his emotion to entering a hostelry “full of girls” and Pellegrini visibly upset at the close of a disappointing week for his team.
On Tuesday Juventus had won the opening Champions League group match here by the same scoreline. That was City’s first reverse of the season. The first defeat of the league campaign arrived in similar circumstances. West Ham were dominated yet the advantage was spurned.
Pellegrini’s post-match verdict had the manager branding his side “crazy” for the manner of West Ham’s first-half goals. He admitted his frustration and told his players there could be “no excuses” for losing to Bilic’s side at home.
The visitors deserve huge credit, of course. Their victory came despite Kevin De Bruyne’s memorable full debut. David Silva’s late withdrawal – he strained a calf muscle in the warm-up – meant the Belgian was shifted into an attacking berth and he shone.
De Bruyne controlled proceedings in a manner reminiscent of the man he replaced. The 24-year-old has similar vision to Silva but also a turn of pace that can leave an opponent trailing, which the Spaniard lacks.
On this evidence the £52m City paid Wolfsburg for him appears money well spent. Yet still West Ham claimed all three points. When they arrived in Manchester, City had yet to concede a goal in five Premier League outings and boasted a perfect 15 points. Bilic’s men departed having ended that run by turning over a stellar XI featuring Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré, Raheem Sterling, De Bruyne, Fernandinho and Joe Hart.
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