Samir Nasri’s hopes of winning this year’s Champions League are already over but the Manchester City midfielder did his bit to guarantee City’s involvement in next season’s competition with a match-winning comeback from injury.
Nasri is not part of City’s 21-strong Champions League squad list they had to submit to Uefa before the knockout stages of the competition after suffering a serious thigh muscle injury in October.
With City fearing a longer absence and short of attacking options at the time, due to an injury to Wilfried Bony, they selected Kelechi Iheanacho in Nasri’s place.
Nasri reels away after scoring against West BromCREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
“It was a really easy decision. Even if I was to be back just for the final, it’s not something we had in mind. Why would I keep a spot when someone is available?” said Nasri after he scored against West Bromwich Albion in his first start since September.
The goal gave City successive Premier League wins for the first time since October and lifted them to within two points of third-placed Arsenal in their effort to secure a top-four finish.
City needed Nasri’s goal after they quickly cancelled out Stéphane Sessègnon’s fine early strike with a Sergio Agüero penalty but then struggled to break down Albion again until the arrival from the bench of Kevin de Bruyne.
Even then, the West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, felt his side should have had a penalty at 1-1 for a clumsy challenge by Eliaquim Mangala on Sandro and then missed late chances through Saido Berahino and James McClean.
“Decisions like that don’t just affect us at this stage of the season,” said Pulis. “All the clubs round Manchester City who are trying to get into the Champions League, it affects them as well.”
Thirteen months after Samir Nasri’s previous Premier League start he ended as game-winner, standout performer and with a message for Pep Guardiola that, if wanted, Manchester City’s incoming coach is a “lucky man” to have a player ravenous to prove his worth.
Before the thigh injury that had ruled out Nasri since the 5-1 win against Bournemouth on 17 October, the Frenchman had faded from the first-team picture. He was again a replacement that day and the sense was of a footballer whose shining talent should make him an A-lister but who would depart City having disappointed.
The caveat here is that Nasri has the technical and creative abilities that Guardiola loves to harness. Witnessing the way the 28-year-old operated as an all-action de facto No10 against West Bromwich Albion, popping up in defence and on hand to hit City’s 66th-minute winner suggests Guardiola may consider giving Nasri a chance.
But, when it was put to him, the Frenchman said: “I don’t know because you never know. Maybe he comes with his [own] ideas and stuff. I played against him in the past, he had some praise for me but I think that was like five years ago now [when at Arsenal]. That is one thing.
“When the pre-season is going to start I am going to be fresh so I hope that will help me and I will try to perform because when you have been out for so long you are more hungry when you come back. You don’t want to waste your time. You want to be back with a bang. If I stay working with Pep Guardiola, if he wants me, he’s just going to be a lucky man because I will be really hungry.
“I am the type of player for his philosophy and the way he likes his team to play so we are just going to see and on the first day of pre-season I will have a chat with him because I am going to be really hungry.”
This desire was City’s gain in a match they had to win, as Nasri ghosted into the area to beat Ben Foster to complete a victory that ensures no slip in the chase for a Champions League berth.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side started by conceding a soft Stéphane Sessègnon goal. Only six minutes were complete when the paper-thin home defence allowed the forward to collect the ball in space inside the area. Joe Hart compounded the complacency by freezing as the ball sailed passed him on his near post.
From this juncture City chugged along unconvincingly even after Sergio Agüero’s 19th-minute penalty. What helped Nasri change the contest was the arrival of Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Touré on the hour.
Instantly City were a vintage one-touch side whose devilry West Brom could not contain. Nasri’s finish followed a deft De Bruyne pass that split Tony Pulis’s side open and by the end City fully deserved the victory.
As does Nasri deserve credit for the display, one that is particularly satisfying after a lonely six months. When the season ends he plans no holiday. “I had a break for six months,” he said. “Trust me I travelled, did everything because I needed to clear my mind for sure, when you have all of this. When you come to the dressing room and hear all the guys talking about starting in this game and that game and you think: ‘When am I going to play?’ It’s too hard for the head. So I’ve had enough of a break and am just going to go in hard. I just want to play.
“I went everywhere. I’ve been in Dubai, America and, when I was close to return, I’ve been in Italy to do a detox. I’ve been in France also with the family because I needed people around me who care. Mentally it’s been really hard.”
By now, Manchester City would've been hoping to be several points clear at the top of the Premier League table. After all, they boast what is probably the strongest squad in the entire division. In reality, Manuel Pellegrini's side find themselves down in third place, a point in arrears of both Arsenal and Leicester City, having also been dogged by a peculiar inconsistency. If they're to stand any chance of leapfrogging their title rivals to the Premier League's summit this weekend, they're going to have to pick up a point or three away at West Ham United.
That's a task easier said than done, with the Hammers enjoying a wonderful campaign under Premier League managerial debutant Slaven Bilić. The Croatian's fine leadership has given West Ham a very real chance of qualifying for the Europa League, with attractive, intelligent football. They've only been beaten twice in front of their home fans so far this season, and City should be heading to London's East End for Saturday's late kickoff expecting a very difficult match.
Key player: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)
Had Argentine striker Sergio Agüero not suffered with his usual injury problems for much of the season so far, Manchester City may by now have been cruising to the title. As it is, Agüero has made two fewer appearances than City's backup striker Wilfried Bony, and has tellingly scored over twice as many goals. He's a cut above any other forward plying their trade in England, and if he manages to stay fit for the remainder of the campaign, it'll boost the Blues' title hopes enormously.
Recent history
Manchester City went through a five-year phase from September 2009 to October 2014 in which they played West Ham 10 times in all competitions, winning eight, drawing two, and losing none. However, in line with the Hammers' resurgence over the last couple of seasons, City have actually lost two of the last three of these sides' meetings. That means depending on how 'recent' you're looking, the recent history between these teams can give either club the edge.
West Ham United injuries and suspensions
Out: Andy Carroll (knock); Diafra Sakho (hamstring); Manuel Lanzini (thigh). In doubt: None.
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Samir Nasri (hamstring); Vincent Kompany (calf). In doubt: Eliaquim Mangala(hamstring); Aleksandar Kolarov (calf); Fernandinho (knock).
The Hammers have three attacking absentees, though the injuries to strikers Carroll and Sakho are rather less frustrating than the one sustained by playmaker Lanzini, who was one of the Hammers' top performers through the first half of the season.
Meanwhile, City will still be without captain Kompany, while attacking midfielder Nasri continues to recover from hamstring surgery he had in November. Defenders Mangala and Kolarov are both doubts, though Fernandinho is expected to be included in the matchday squad after recovering from a knock.
Match date/time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local
The Frenchman, who will miss the majority of the season due to a serious tendon injury, is happy at the club despite having been identified as a likely candidate to leave.
Samir Nasri is determined to stay and fight for his Manchester City future despite his growing status as the club's forgotten man, Goal has learned.
The Frenchman struggled to break into Manuel Pellegrini's first team at the start of the season following the summer arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne for a combined outlay of close to £100 million.
Nasri had started two matches - one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League - and was largely restricted to late substitute appearances before being struck down with a tendon injury which will keep him on the sidelines for around six months.
He is also likely to be removed from City's Champions League squad for the knockout stages, which must be declared by February 2, as Pellegrini looks to increase the pool of players from which he can choose. Kelechi Iheanacho, the 19-year-old Nigerian, is currently favourite to take Nasri's place having missed out on being involved in the group stages.
Pellegrini has consistently played down the chances of signing any players in January, but has admitted that there is a chance somebody could arrive to fill the hole left by Nasri.
Many supporters had expected him to be moved on during the summer, especially given the likely arrival of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium and the possibility of a squad overhaul.
But sources close to the 28-year-old indicate he has no plans to leave as he believes the new contract he signed in 2014, which runs for another three-and-a-half years, is a sign of the club's commitment. The former Arsenal man is happy with Pellegrini - the Chilean always refers to Nasri in his press conferences when giving injury updates - but is said to be excited by the prospect of working with Guardiola, should the Catalan coach take up residence in Manchester this summer. City, however, are set to ramp up their recruitment drive at the end of the season having already spent around £170m in 2015.
Paul Pogba and Lionel Messi are among the top-end targets on the club's wishlist, while the likes of Real Madrid midfielder Isco and Schalke starlet Leroy Sane have been linked with January moves but are more likely to be pursued in the summer. In fact, a number of players are said to have been identified by Guardiola already, with newspapers across Europe linking the club with deals for Alexis Sanchez, Ilkay Gundogan, Neymar, Ander Herrera and David Alaba, who are all said to be favourites of the Bayern Munich boss.
We think it's fair to say that Samir Nasri is not having the easiest time of it at the moment.
After declaring that he'd never play for the French national team again a couple of weeks ago, he's officially put an end to his career with his country. Meanwhile, his playing time for Manchester City has been limited after a few niggling injuries and the signing of the impressive Raheem Sterling and, perhaps more importantly, the superb Kevin De Bruyne .
With De Bruyne in the form of his life, assisting and scoring at a rate of knots, Samir is going to struggle to displace him in the team in the near future. The Belgian's late winner against Sevilla in the Champions League has only cemented his spot at the heart of City's attack.
As such, Nasri might need a plan to reclaim his starting status. Some fans think he already has a special scheme in place, however. Oddly enough, it's to do with the former Arsenal man's new haircut.
Samir has recently got an extremely bold trim - it's a boyish, fair-haired, spiky number. We're not sure it's entirely fair to say it's just like De Bruyne's, with Kevin proudly rocking the ginger look. Still, there's a shapely resemblance - one which a lot of rival supporters have instantly jumped upon as proof of attempted camouflage.
The third international break of this intriguing Premier League season will be considered a disruptive element arriving at just the wrong moment by most Premier League bosses, but there is one, who may well be quite pleased it is upon us now.
For Manuel Pellegrini, sitting top of the pile with his Manchester City side, a break will give him crucial extra days to ease his missing stars back towards the first team. Neither David Silva nor Sergio Aguero have kicked a ball in anger for City since the demolition of Newcastle United on Oct. 3. In the meantime, the club has made itself comfortable at the top of the table.
Aguero's five-goal haul and Silva's virtuoso midfield performance in that game aided and abetted City's rise, but a great deal of the spadework since then has been done by other, less coveted, mortals in their absence. With Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool next up at the Etihad, however, there is every reason for Pellegrini to hope that the predictions of imminent comebacks are accurate.
Add the enforced absence of captain Vincent Kompany and it is perhaps worth underlining how well City have done to maintain their position, however slim the lead is at present. At the same time, the club has hoisted itself to the top of Champions League Group D after an ignominious start at home to Juventus. Having already qualified for the knockout stage with two games to play, City will want to finish the job professionally and end up top in December. This will allow them to avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern in the last 16, a luxury never before afforded them in this competition.
With three of City's next four games at home, this is the moment that the Chilean will be emphasising focus, drive and energy to his squad. After Liverpool's much anticipated visit, City travel to Turin for what has become a top of the table decider vs. Juventus, then entertain Southampton and Hull City, the latter in the quarterfinals of the League Cup.
Get that little lot right and December could dawn with City clear at the top of the Premier League, in the semifinals of the League Cup and well-placed to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in their history. For all the talk of Arsenal's resurgence and Manchester United's newfound rigidity, it is City who may walk away heavy-handed when 2016 honours land.
With Silva and Aguero due back in the fold in time for Liverpool, City's squad is clearly stronger than their rivals'. The feeling that Arsenal maintain the fragilities of previous years and that United are already performing to the top of their ability will not go away. City, on the other hand, have shown their best form only in sporadic bursts and have yet to really hit their stride.
Pellegrini will look to stalwarts Pablo Zabaleta, who is also targeting the Liverpool game for a comeback, Kompany, Silva and Aguero to keep fit in the coming months and provide a springboard to what could easily become one of City's best ever seasons. With the side firing on all fronts, Pellegrini must pick and choose with care. He will be aware of what he thinks is his best side and will be looking forward to the day when he can actually field it without first talking to the physiotherapist for updates on tired hamstrings and creaking tendons.
Despite injuries to key players, Manuel Pellegrini still has Manchester City sitting atop the Premier League.
Although the likes of Eliaquim Mangala, Bacary Sagna, Fernando and Jesus Navas have all stepped in and produced the goods, the taciturn Chilean will be thinking of Zabaleta, Kompany, Samir Nasri, Silva and Aguero as not only welcome squad additions, but returning foundation stones of what he is trying to build this season.
Given the luxury of choice, there remain one or two doubts as to the Chilean's first choice side. In Zabaleta's absence, Sagna has excelled at right back, with Aleksandar Kolarov similarly liberated on the other side by Raheem Sterling's darting presence. In the middle Kompany must surely look to Nicolas Otamendi as his partner. With the anchoring roles in midfield held by Yaya Toure and the outstanding Fernandinho, there is real competition for places up front, with Silva, Navas, Sterling, Nasri, Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne competing for just four places.
With Sterling's positive effect on Kolarov noted, his role is vital, as is that of De Bruyne, who has been outstanding since his arrival from Wolfsburg in the summer. Aguero makes all the difference to the goals-for column and one can hardly deny Silva his place. All of this leaves the likes of Nasri, Navas, Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho looking in from the outside, hardly just reward for their efforts so far.
It is with this embarrassment of riches that Pellegrini will hope to tackle City's next four opponents. By then, with all the walking wounded back on board, Manchester City may be able to give us all a clear idea of what the 2015-16 season holds in store for them.
Nasri (hamstring) should be returning to full training in the upcoming days.
ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSIS
Nasri's return would leave manager Manuel Pellegrini with just Wilfried Bony side-lined after a injury prone past few months. He'll look to return to training and full fitness before possibly returning to the pitch in the next match against Liverpool.
