How Manchester City made history—Part 2
Last week, we published thoughts on what can be learned from how Manchester City won the English Premier League recently. SamZ is an ardent follower of the Rise and Shine column and today we share below his thoughts on what Rise and Shine readers can learn from Manchester City:
Manchester City epic finale could best be described as the most incredible and dramatic conclusion to a remarkable year of English championship football. The league brought more twists and turns than the Blantyre-Nchalo Road would bring you: the turbulence of games, goals, victories and defeats. Rise and Shine today looks at the ecstatic final day of the English premier league, Sunday the May 13 2012, and the lessons that we can derive from this historic moment which took 44 years to repeat itself.
Every opportunity counts: With both Manchester teams tied at the top with 86 points, City, playing Queens Park Rangers on the final game, needed to equal United, who were playing Sunderland. City ultimately pipped United to claim the trophy on goal difference. This means that given the opportunity, City were scoring for fun.
In the end the goals counted. In life or career, use every detail to enhance your competitive advantage. Make the best use of opportunities that come your way even if they seem to be trivial. You do not throw anything away for no good reason; you might need it.
Keep trying, don’t give up: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson handed Manchester City the name tag The Noisy Neighbours when City were trying their luck to the title. Fergie brushed aside seemingly little threats to his title ambitions as one of those things when everything was showing it was business unusual for the big man.
As the clock started to tick into the added time and United with almost the second hand on the coveted trophy, some City fans were seen leaving the stadium in tears. Not surprising, some of these faithfuls might have missed the exact moment the history was written because they thought it was finished. No matter what, don’t pack your bags yet until it’s over. Never give up. The players’ never-say-die attitude especially in the final match against QPR was the most important ingredient to the team’s championship success story. This is why Ghana’s Premier League team Hearts of Oak’s slogan reads it’s not over until the bones are rotten.
Fight as a team: City players played as a single unit throughout the game and it wasn’t surprising that the club open-top bus for their victory parade across Manchester City the following Monday was inscribed Together. On the other hand, QPR captain Joey Burton, a leader who was supposed to lead by example, produced his moment of madness when he collected his team’s 9th red card of the season and forced his men to play with a numerical disadvantage for the great part of the game. Burton saw red after making an unsavory attack on Carlos Tevez and kicked Sergio Aguero on his way out.
Success doesn’t fall on one’s lap: The Abu Dhabi family, City club owners, has been accused of purchasing the title considering the huge amounts the club has spent on buying players. Roman Abramovich, Chelsea owner, too has spent big in players, while Arsenal has been mean on the transfer market. The results are for all to see.
