Why Swansea Is More Than an Average Premier League Game for Manchester City

With Manchester City’s season in danger of an early implosion, the international break appears to have been well timed.

The nervous, incoherent football being produced by Manuel Pellegrini’s side was alarming, given the fluency they showed en route to two trophies last season, and a period away from the intense pressure and focus was probably welcome.

Retaining the Premier League remains the club’s priority, yet they find themselves eight points behind leaders Chelsea, who, after conducting impressive business in the summer and with Jose Mourinho in charge, look imperious. But their form won’t last forever. There are bound to be blips, and City need to be in a position to take advantage when they arrive.

However, if they don’t start winning regularly, like they did from late-November to the New Year last season, when they won 18 games during a 20-game unbeaten stretch, it could allow the west Londoners to run away with it. It’s almost a year to the day since that run began, and City desperately need a repeat.

That’s why their next match, at home to Swansea, is absolutely vital. In fact, their run of three games in eight days, which also sees them take on Bayern Munich at home and Southampton away, could be a defining period.

City have won just six of their opening 11 league games, leaving them with 21 points going into Saturday’s game with Swansea, but Pellegrini told Sky Sports News HQ that he feels it’s too early to assess his side’s title credentials:

"

Now is not the moment to analyse what has happened in the season. There are a lot of games to play in the Premier League and Champions League.

We have 27 more games to play and there are a lot of points [to be contested], so we will see at the end who will be the best team this year.

"

Last season, of course, City overcame a five-point deficit to beat Liverpool to the title, and Pellegrini is right to suggest that his side still have plenty of time amass the points they need to be successful again, but Chelsea look a far more significant proposition than Liverpool did at any stage last season, meaning it's likely City will need to bring more to the table.

Mourinho remains one of the most gifted managers in the game, one who rarely surrenders a sizable lead. Chelsea face West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a game they’re likely to win, so the pressure on City to do the same against the Swans is increased.

And remarkably, despite taking just two points from four matches and playing in an inhibited way throughout, City still have a chance of progressing in the Champions League. The incompetence shown by all but Bayern means Group E is still wide open, and two wins in their last two games would give them a chance of making the last 16.

Tom Dulat/Getty Images

David Silva, according to Jamie Jackson in the Guardian, may return for the first of those games—an enormous boost given his status as the side’s most creative player. His fitness is of huge importance because City often look bereft of ideas without him.

The long trip to Southampton to play an in-form side completes their trio of quick-fire games and, again, only a win will do. The Saints have started the season in remarkable form and find themselves second in the table, four points ahead of City and starting to believe that Champions League qualification is a real possibility. It could easily turn out to be one of City's most difficult games of the season so far, and they'll have to be at their very best if they are to take anything from St Mary's.

Three important games are coming up, and given City's start, there's little room for error.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.