Manchester City Players with Most to Prove Impress vs. Melbourne

A great finish from Samir Nasri crowned off a landmark day for the City Football Group, as Manchester City beat their sister club Melbourne City 1-0 on the Gold Coast.

It was the first time two of the group’s teams have met, and it was the experienced players from the English club who impressed most—ahead of a campaign where they need to be back to their best.

That it was Nasri who scored the only goal of the game was fitting. The Frenchman, with a point to prove to many who wouldn’t complain if he were to be moved on in this summer’s transfer window, showed what he can do when he wasn’t battling back from an injury and when he applied himself.

The midfielder still showed signs of what frustrates fans the most: failing to release the ball on a couple of occasions when he could have played a pass or taken a shot on, with one notable instance, as he was put through by Brandon Barker. However, he was comfortably the most creative player on the pitch and was pulling the strings in the offensive third for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

His finish wasn’t bad either, as he cracked a half-volley into the top corner, with around four minutes to play.

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90. MATCH SHOT - @SamNasri19 scoring! pic.twitter.com/wZ7aKEGNFw

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 18, 2015"

Just as Nasri has to show he’s still up to the task of being part of City’s squad, there were other senior figures with the same job who also shone. Both Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany didn’t enjoy their 2014/15 campaigns, with the pair struggling for form throughout.

Yet their performances against Melbourne showed signs of their return to their peak.

Of course, fans shouldn’t get too carried away—the club is just over a week into pre-season, and it’s about fitness rather than victories at this stage. But Toure’s range of passing was encouraging and Kompany’s timing in the tackles and positioning in the back-four didn’t go absent without leave like it has in the past.

Jon Super/Associated Press

There may have been mitigating circumstances for Toure’s poor season last year, but if he continues in the same vein as against Melbourne, the dip in form could be a thing of the past. The assumption had been that he was to be transferred this summer, but he announced his intention to stay and prove himself once more.

While he may be heading towards the latter years of his career, he could be an integral part of the squad again.

The Ivorian could have opened the scoring himself in the first half. A free kick in what seemed to be in the perfect position for him presented an opportunity to shoot and his effort cracked the crossbar. It was a flashback to the Toure of Pellegrini’s title-winning campaign, if lacking a little in match fitness.

Meanwhile, and after a shaky start, the captain found his feet. There was the worry that Kompany’s old tricks of diving in high up the pitch and getting caught out could be about to return; however, he looked composed in defence and—but for one moment that saw Willy Caballero forced into a good fingertip save from Harry Novillo—he stood up well to his opposition.

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49. MATCH SHOT - @VincentKompany in the thick of the action pic.twitter.com/20yVTgc2cQ

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 18, 2015"

One of the biggest factors in Pellegrini’s side struggling to defend their title was a lack of form from several key players. Perhaps after a summer break, those who really struggled in 2014/15 have come back refreshed and re-energised, ready to stake a claim for the Premier League trophy again.

The Blues will face tougher tests over the next week, as they take on Roma and Real Madrid, and the fans are likely to learn a lot more about the senior players as they get more games under their belts.