Those 35 years of hurt for Manchester City and their fans finally came to a welcome end on 11 May, 2011. That was the day when they banished the misery of all those years without winning a major trophy. It was also the day when Mario Balotelli proved conclusively that he DID have the talent on the football field to back up his larger-than-life antics off it – as he was named the Man of the Match after a fine performance at Wembley as City beat Stoke City 1-0 to lift the FA Cup.
The bookmakers paddypower.com set the scene well for an occasion that had City as favourites, with the battlers of Stoke rank outsiders, ‘Billionaires Manchester City the firm favourites. Despite their recent lack of silverware and the fact that it’s their first appearance in the FA Cup Final since a certain Ricky Villa ended their hopes in 1981, Manchester City are the firm 8/11 favourites to win their fifth FA Cup.
‘Whilst never seriously threatening to take the Premier League title this season, Roberto Mancini’s side have gradually improved and look set to claim their place in next season’s lucrative Champions League. A lot of money has been spent on City’s attack – Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko cost over £100 million between them – but it has been City’s defensive solidity that has been the key to their success this season. They have only conceded three goals in this season’s tournament, and none since Neal Bishop’s goal for Notts County threatened an upset in the Fourth Round. Clean sheets against Aston Villa, Reading and neighbours Manchester United have carried them to their first FA Cup final in thirty years and Stoke’s biggest problem will be penetrating an impressive rearguard.
‘Vincent Kompany will captain City if Carlos Tevez fails to recover from the injury he sustained against Liverpool and, alongside Joleon Lescott, forms one of the best central defensive partnerships in the league. Tevez’s injury is City’s main concern ahead of the final, with neither Mario Balotelli nor Edin Dzeko showing anything like the form that prompted Roberto Mancini to spend the best part of £60 million.’
Well, now was the chance – and the perfect time – for Mario to show he was worth the money Mancini had invested in him. Before the Final, Mario told the Press that he was actually a sweet, shy guy and that the image of him as a brash exhibitionist was far from the reality, ‘My public image is absolutely not a fair reflection of who I am. Sometimes I do the wrong thing and there are things I regret but I’m 20. People who know me are aware I’m not a bad guy but I’m shy; I stay at home and play on the PlayStation and sometimes I go shopping. In Italy, I have a lot of friends I can do things with. When I was at home on a day off, I would go to the shooting range, or do a lesson of [martial art] Muay Thai or go-karting.
‘Next year it will be easier. My friends will come over and I think my family will move here. The idea people have of me is not correct. Absolutely not. I am shy. I like to have fun. People tell me some of the things that are said about me and many times I have to laugh because these things just aren’t true. I like to do normal things, but maybe not normal for a footballer.’
He was asked why Mourinho had labelled him ‘unmanageable’. Mario said, ‘Maybe Mourinho said I was unmanageable because he could not do it. Roberto Mancini is managing me now, so what Mourinho said is not true. They are both great managers but they are different. When I had problems with Mourinho, he tried to work against me; Mancini has supported me. Mancini killed me in the dressing room after I was sent off against Kiev [in the Europa League], he told me: “You’re an idiot, I don’t know why I buy you and why I bother with you” but, with the press, he speaks well of me. The problem with Mourinho and me was that we are the same kind of character.’
No wonder Balotelli shuddered when it was then suggested that Mourinho might eventually end up as his boss at City if they got rid of Mancini, ‘Why? City are fourth in the league, we are in the FA Cup final for the first time in 30 years. I don’t know why somebody would want another coach. Roberto is doing very well; why should he be changed? Roberto never lies. He says what he has to say; that’s what I like about him. I trust Roberto.’
But he did have something to prove to the City fans who had stood by him. His record before the FA Cup final of ten goals, 11 bookings and one red card did not add up to the brilliance they were expecting after his transfer from Italy. Mario conceded that he had not done as well as he himself had even hoped, and tried to explain why, ‘I can’t look back on a single game at City and think, “This is how I want to play.” I have a normal level and another, higher level. I think that when I play at the normal level I can be one of the best but, in England, I have never played at that level. This year was difficult because I was injured twice and I didn’t train properly in pre-season. I didn’t know if I was coming to City or staying with Inter, so I never trained and my condition was really low. I haven’t played so good but I still think I can enjoy English football. It’s more physical but it’s easier than Italian football, especially for a striker.’
Then he spoke about the incident in the semi against United – when he went to celebrate in front of their fans – that had left Rio Ferdinand so angry. Balotelli said, ‘I think United players were too sensitive about it. I showed my shirt but I didn’t swear.
‘But I’m sensitive as well. And, if one of them did the same to me, maybe I’d react the same. It’s normal that, when you lose a game, you’re upset and if another player celebrates like that you’ll be angry. But when I lose my temper it’s because I decide to. If I do something it’s because I want to do it.’
Many fans – and not just of City and Stoke – felt the decision to play the FA Cup final on the same day as Premier League matches was well out of order. The FA had decreed that it should be that way as the Champions League Final was to be held at Wembley two weeks later. And the fans felt that the decision took away something of the special aura of the occasion.
One fan said, ‘What is the FA cup final doing on a day when there are league fixtures? I may come over as all “when I were a lad” but the FA Cup Final always signified the end of the season and long summers that were ahead. This now typifies all that is wrong with the game - the Champions league is put first, no doubt driven by Sky’s money, meaning the FA cup final essentially becomes “just another game”.’
And another football fan, Elliott, added, ‘I agree that the FA Cup Final should be the last domestic game of the season. Unfortunately those at the FA obviously don’t agree as they’ve bent over backwards to get the Champions League Final at Wembley, meaning no other events are to be held at the stadium two weeks ahead of the game (as stated by UEFA). I’ve read they’ve also had some of the taxes written off for this game too, as UEFA weren’t happy about how high they were. They should get their priorities right because they’re becoming a laughing stock, especially after the World Cup bid.’
And Harap said, ‘Agree, it is a shame about the cup final being almost overshadowed, it doesn’t feel right. I’m hoping Man City win it personally, used to go see them quite a bit when I was at uni in Manchester and always had a bit of a soft spot for them.’ City fans agreed that the final should have been given more precedence but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the thousands who headed for Wembley in May, 2011, both with and without tickets.
City had the lion’s share of possession and were the better team during the 90 minutes. The website soccernews.com highlighted the fact that very fact and Balotelli’s importance in the goal, saying, ‘Both managers fielded their strongest line-ups as Carlos Tevez came through a late fitness test for City, as did Matthew Etherington and Robert Huth for Tony Pulis’ Stoke. And it was the favourites who started the stronger.
‘Tevez took just five minutes before he tested Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal with a low drive, with Ryan Shawcross fortunate not to score an own goal as he deflected a low Aleksander Kolarov cross into the side netting. It was all City in the opening half-hour as Toure fired a shot inches wide from 35 yards, before Sorensen produced a sensational save, somehow pushing Mario Balotelli’s curling effort past the far post when it appeared the Italian had surely scored from just inside the area.
‘[Then] Silva failed to even have a shot at goal when Tevez played him through on goal early in the second-half. Stoke were much improved, though, and City were indebted to Joe Hart for saving well when Kenwyne Jones had a shot from six yards out after chasing a long ball and getting the better of Joleon Lescott. It appeared certain that the game was going to go into extra-time as neither side was able to make any real impression going forward as full-time drew near. But with 16 minutes left, City made the breakthrough.
‘It was a scrappy goal in truth – not that City will mind – as Silva looked to combine with Tevez down the left. When the ball was played into the box Balotelli’s effort hit Marc Wilson and fell perfectly for Toure to run on and smash a left-footed effort past Sorensen from eight yards. The goal sparked scenes of wild celebration in the City end and appeared to knock the wind out of Stoke, who never looked likely to recover as Mancini’s men hung on to claim the first trophy of the Sheikh Mansour era.’
Yes, the match was finally won – and so too the cup. Mario had played a key role in the goal, linking up with Silva as they finally set up Yaya for the strike that broke Stoke’s heart and led to City fans finally being able to celebrate the end of the wilderness years. They had won a major trophy once again – 35 years on.
The Telegraph’s Jeremy Wilson best summed up Balotelli’s mature display in the final, saying, ‘It [The win] was as much a triumph at Wembley on Saturday for the astute man-management of Roberto Mancini as the deep pockets of Sheikh Mansour. And there was no one who underlined that fact better than Mario Balotelli, the enfant terrible of the Premier League, whose man of the match performance was followed by an interview that will live almost as long in the memory. Asked if it had been his best performance of the season, he paused briefly before offering an assessment of absolute candour. “All my season was s***,” he said. “Can I say that? I’ve played not very well, but today maybe I played more for the team.” An apology followed from ITV presenter Adrian Chiles but, after a game in which he had performed with absolute discipline, the absence of any verbal restraint was perhaps predictable…continued his torment of Stoke right back Andy Wilkinson. Both his vision and technique was evident as he dissected the Stoke defence for David Silva to deliver the pass into the penalty area that led to City’s winning goal.’
After the game, Mario admitted he was delighted to have helped City team to win the FA Cup and his own role – which ended with that Man of the Match award. ‘All my season, maybe it wasn’t good,’ he said. ‘Today maybe I played more for the team, so it was good. Every player has his quality and I have my quality. If I show my qualities for the team I can be important. It feels good to win. I said before the game that we are better than them but we have to respect them as they are a team. You have to go on the pitch with respect but you have to give everything.’
Mario also said the City fans had been ‘brilliant’ and thanked them for their support and constant encouragement as they searched for the killer goal. Micah Richards and Adam Johnson also chipped in with thanks to the supporters who had waited so long for this moment. ‘It is the biggest cup competition in the world and we have won it,’ said Johnson. ‘Look what it means to the fans after 35 years of waiting for it.’
And Richards said: ‘It is unbelievable. We have worked hard all season and we have won The FA Cup – I can’t believe it. This is the start. This is the first [trophy] and the most important. It is exciting times for us. We will spend in the summer and be better next year.’
And keeper Joe Hart, whose brilliant save thwarted Kenwyne Jones from putting Stoke in front just before Toure scored, said it was time for City to now step out of United’s shadow. Hart said, ‘I couldn’t care less about Man Utd. It’s about what happens with us.
‘We beat the best. We beat a very good Stoke team today. A bit more consistency next season and you never know.’
Yaya Toure himself would later say that the FA Cup win was the greatest moment of his career – quite a comment when you consider that he won TEN trophies with Barcelona, including the Champions League in 2009. He explained that it was so special because he was delighted to be ‘making history’ at his new club – that he was a key part of the history making.
The Ivory Coast star also indicated that he believed the win was down to the spirit Mancini had brought to the club. He told the Daily Mail: ‘I think our team bond developed during last season and we were strong at the end. We can continue this next season hopefully. Although I scored the winning goals in the semi-final and final, both of those victories were down to us being a strong team.
‘Scoring those goals at Wembley was amazing – the cup final goal was the best moment of my career. I came here to make history and I did that.’
Skipper Vinny Kompany also believed that the win would open the floodgates to other trophies. The Belgian centre-back said, ‘In my opinion, this is just the first of many trophies to come in the future. We’ve laid the first brick, now we can build a house.
‘We knew Stoke would make it hard. All credit to them, they kept the fight going until the last minute, but if you look at the chances we deserved to win. This is how far we’ve come. If this isn’t a step forward, I don’t know what is.’
And Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong added: ‘The feeling is unbelievable. We’ve worked so hard to win this FA Cup, and this was for all our fans. The city will be blue for a long time! We deserved it because we dominated from the first minute, though they came back with their set pieces. I missed out on a World Cup medal in the summer, but I’ll happily take this.’
Boss Mancini dedicated the win to the long-suffering fans, many of whom had waited since 1976 for this wonderful moment. He had also won a Champions League spot for the club – and was, like Mario, becoming a cult hero among the fans. ‘I am happy for the fans, they deserved to win this Cup. For a long time they didn’t win. My feeling is good, but it’s important that they also feel good.’
He added, ‘I feel very good. I used to watch the FA Cup Final on TV when I was young, now we have won it. I am very proud. I’m happy. Congratulations to all my players because I think that this afternoon they played a fantastic game. We deserved to score in the first half but were really unlucky. We always had the game under control, but in football if you don’t score then anything can happen at any moment. Yaya is a fantastic player but it wasn’t only about Yaya. It was all the players – and those who didn’t play today – who helped us win this trophy.’
City coach David Platt expanded upon that line – pointing out that Mancini had won the Italian Cup first as boss of Inter Milan, and that had led to further trophies. ‘Champions League qualification was for the business end of the club, it makes the club more attractive to players that we might want to bring in and that was important, but for the dressing room we had to win something,’ Platt told BBC Radio 5 live. ‘You ask Roberto which of the trophies was the best while he was at Inter and he will say it was the first Italian Cup because that is what gave the dressing room that winning mentality. What nobody can take away from the players is that they have won something.
‘Getting to the FA Cup final was terrific after beating Manchester United in the semi-final, but now there are a lot of people going back up the motorway very happy because having won something for the first time in 35 years, it is a major trophy.
‘What’s important for Robbie is that he wins for the supporters and he wins for the owners but he will put that away now and concentrate on the next one.’
The fans were deliriously happy with Mancini too – and the result – although there were already some murmurings that Tevez might not want to stay and help bring more glory to the club. One fan said, ‘Congratulations to City – may you stay on a winning streak. After a 35-year wait, I hope the City of Manchester does you proud. Stay with City, Carlos, more silver is on its way. And you are one of the best.’
But another fan voiced the belief that it might be best if Carlos departed, saying, ‘Tevez would be a thorn in the side of City if he stays. I appreciate what he has done for the club however he is nothing more than a drifter. The less playing time he gets the more frustrated and childish he gets. For the good of the team and the future, Tevez must be traded this summer. Mancini said he wanted to start a tradition of winning, a tradition of success, well so far Hart, Kompany, De Jong, Richards, Balo, David, Johnson, Dzeko they all seem part of that future. They are City’s future. I simply just don’t see Tevez there. He is not part of the future for City. I expect City to be quite lively this upcoming transfer window.’
Other supporters simply told of their exhilaration – and celebrations! – after the marvellous win. One said, ‘Absolutely lost my mind today. Was bought more shots than I can even count and I was out cold. What an absolutely magical, brilliant, un****ingbelievable day.’ Another said, ‘The world belongs to Manchester City FC. When I got home I was pissed, emotional drained. Apart from that goal…and the lifting of the Cup, I couldn’t remember anything about the match. I can remember now, and those memories will live with me for the rest of my life. I have a hangover that I haven’t had for 35 years…and I love it.’
Another City fan exclaimed, ‘I can’t and at the moment don’t want to be objective about the final. The result and winning that trophy has finally exorcised the demons of 1981 for me. Me and my dad hugged and cried at the final whistle, while my lad was jumping around (oh to be young again!)’
Lifelong fan Roy elucidated more about the actual game – and how City dominated. He said, ‘Gotta say we normally storm our opponents for 10 minutes then relax. That’s the first game all season we played attacking football for 90 minutes. All the players played their hearts out so in the end Stoke didn’t stand a chance. I have to ask why can’t we play like that every game? If we did I think we would have been fighting for the title this year but no point crying over spilt milk. It just shows the quality and potential we have in our squad and how well they are when they want to be. What a game and what a result.’
City fanatic Kevin would later say, ‘Just getting sober and back home from one of the best days of my life. We were everything we hoped we would be and completely wiped the floor with Stoke. Met thousands of fans…. had fantastic seats too. Man, yesterday was better than sex. Thank you City and well done to all the fans at Wembley…for an atmosphere only an FA cup final can make.’
Another fan of many years, Harry Clay, said he had been ‘really pleased’ for Balotelli and pleased that the Italian had finally got his act together. He said, ‘We all knew he was a boy with immense talent but we had started to wonder if he would ever live up to it. He was starting to get headlines for things other than football and I wondered if his heart was really in the game, let alone our football club. He seemed distracted by off-field events that were happening and didn’t seem 100 per cent committed to City. There was the feeling among some fans that he was only surviving because of his close relationship with the manager – that if he hadn’t been as close to Mancini he would have at least have been told to buckle down more and prove himself. He needed to show his team-mates that he cared about them and winning things with City – and at Wembley against Stoke he did just that.
‘The Cup Final win was a turning point for Balotelli’s relationship with the fans and probably some of the players too. He showed us he DID care – that he would go to any lengths to win something for this club and that he could be trusted to deliver on the big occasion. It was great seeing him play so well in such a big match. He showed what talent he had and what a massive star he could be – even, as Mancini had claimed, to the extent that he might one day be one of the best three players in the world.’
Even Stoke manager Tony Pulis accepted that his team were well beaten on the day. He said, ‘We are all desperately disappointed because today we didn’t reach the level of performance we have over the last few months. It hurts to say this but Manchester City were the better team on the day and deserved to win. A few of our players were a little bit out of their depth at the end. But when you see that they had a £30m player on the bench and didn’t even use him, you can see the difference between the two clubs.’
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, added to the congratulations but then put a dampener on it for City fans by also saluting United who had won the title with games to spare, ‘City winning the FA Cup is a joyous occasion for many people in Manchester, myself included. Manchester United winning their 19th top flight title is a remarkable and historic achievement. Manchester’s football clubs are a huge source of pride, helping to project the city’s name around the world. It’s only fitting that we host a public celebration of those achievements so fans can share the moment and enjoy the success. We expect some unforgettable scenes as fans gather to acclaim their team.’
But Patrick Vieira brought it back to what mattered for City fans – their own team’s triumph – when he said, ‘It means a lot to the players but even more to the fans. They have been waiting a long time for this. It is fantastic. There has been a lot of pressure on this team. It’s a really fantastic season for us.
Meanwhile, Balotelli was in fine form, I am told, as the City camp celebrated their victory with a post-match meal at their hotel, the 5-star Grove in leafy Hertfordshire. ‘Even in the dressing room and on the way back to the Grove in the coach Mario was in a very buoyant mood,’ I am told. ‘He was larking about in the dressing room with the cup and making the other players laugh as he messed about. He was delighted to have helped bring the cup back to Manchester and saw it as a thank you to the City fans who had backed him as he struggled to settle in Manchester.’
It appears Balotelli spent his meal talking to the waitresses and making them laugh and then led the way for a post-match swim celebration, where he and some other jokers jumped up and down clapping and shouting, ‘We’ve won the cup’ in the hotel’s pool. ‘He’s just a great guy,’ I am told. ‘Nothing like the sulky bloke you might sometimes imagine – that’s just down to his shyness. Mario is very generous, very kind and always makes time to talk to all the staff at the club. He was certainly friendly and polite to the staff and those who were staying at the Grove.’
It was the side of the boy most people never see – the side of the boy some people don’t want to see, or acknowledge, because it would wreck the image of Mario as a madman who has little time for anyone but himself. But that night after the Wembley triumph for City best illustrated the person his friends, family and many at his football club know well – a warm, kind, generous lad who will go out of the way to make others feel wanted and liked. At the end of his first season at City, Mario could look back with some pride at helping the club to that FA Cup win and his goals tally. He had made 28 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals – but on the deficit side of the balance sheet, he accrued more yellow cards than goals…a total of 11…and had also been sent off twice.
So the promise was clearly there, but so was the hot-headed folly that could spell problems for both the players and the club. His challenge for his second season at the club would, clearly, be to keep up the good work with the goals and his contributions in key matches, but also to get a grip on that temper of his. It would be a challenge that would define his future at City. Before we analyse that second season, let’s take a look at the footballers who had trodden the path that Mario had followed to Manchester – the Italian stallions who had laid the groundwork in the Premier League for the boy who would be the best of them all.