Manchester City's Glorious Week Could See Them Find Title-Winning Form

Are Manchester City, finally, set to find some consistency in this most unpredictable of seasons?

Two glorious wins in the space of four days is the boost they desperately needed.

They went to Ukraine on Wednesday and played Dynamo Kiev off the park, planting one foot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final in the process. They’ve never made the last-eight of Europe’s premier competition; Manuel Pellegrini and his side stand on the brink of history.

And then, on Sunday, they secured the first major piece of silverware this season by winning the Capital One Cup in front of 90,000 at Wembley. As weeks go, this has been a pretty special one for City.

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ICYMI: #mcfc celebrations from above! #cityatwembley 🏆 https://t.co/6wd2hVInX2

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 29, 2016"

Now they must use it. Their Premier League title hopes hang in the balance, but the situation isn’t irreversible. They are nine points behind leaders Leicester City, who are yet to have a wobble, with a game in hand and 12 matches left of the season.

Arsenal continue to prove incapable of moving ahead of the pack. Tottenham Hotspur look strong but not unbeatable.

City’s problem this season has been their inability to string victories together.

No wins against the top five is a damning statistic, but sides have won the league in the past without a decent record against their direct rivals. It isn't good to see your team struggle against those at the top, but it isn't a trend that will necessarily define the season.

What will worry Pellegrini the most is the fact his side haven’t won back-to-back league games in almost four months. It’s a staggering fact and one that gets to the heart of their problems, the reason they are languishing in fourth, despite having the best squad of players in the eyes of most.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

If ever a week could prove to be the catalyst for improved form, however, it’s City’s last few days. In Kiev, something clicked. Their players, fresh from a week’s rest after Pellegrini opted to rotate heavily for the FA Cup tie with Chelsea, looked sharper, more inventive than they have since beating Sevilla in November.

Their passing was quick and incisive. David Silva was on the ball looking to make things happen. Their core of Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Silva and Sergio Aguero were on the pitch together, a rare sight these days. Kiev, a poor side but a Champions League last-16 one nonetheless, were swatted away with ease.

And then a trophy, earned in glorious circumstances. City were the superior side during the 120 minutes played, yet their lack of ruthlessness meant Liverpool had penalties to fall back on.

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Proud to be among the champions yesterday thanks to all the fans that came to support comoncity💪 pic.twitter.com/KZKob28jSB

— Kelechi Iheanacho (@67Kelechi) February 29, 2016"

Step forward Willy Caballero, a man criticised throughout the week, questioned by everyone as to whether he was good enough to deserve his spot in the final.

He had already made a superb save from Divock Origi in extra time, only to then make three world-class penalty stops in succession. Toure, so often the man for the big Wembley occasion, stepped up and slotted home the winning penalty.

It was a special day, the crowning moment of a seismic week. Just what City needed.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

“I'm very happy for the performance of the team, playing against a very difficult team like Liverpool,” Pellegrini told reporters afterwards. “I'm very happy for Willy Caballero because he deserves this moment. Happy also to win a title in February. It's good for trust of the team for the way we are working.

“There's lots of things that I, as a manager, am very proud of the squad that I manage."

This cannot be an isolated week, though. City are chasing history in the Champions League and could still impact the title race. Pellegrini leaves in June, and his players, surely, want to send him off a winner.

Only by maintaining the level they suddenly found in the last week will they do that. There’s still plenty to play for.

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See how the #mcfc players celebrated in the Wembley dressing room.
Picture special: https://t.co/fyfQNDnCCe pic.twitter.com/JarwZxoE1o

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 29, 2016"

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.